As the birth place of Aphrodite, Goddess of beauty and love, there are many places to visit in Cyprus that will not only take your breath away but also teach you some history. Take a look beyond sun and sea to explore archaeological sites, pine forests and snowy peaks. Whilst offering warm hospitality, golden sandy beaches and crystal clear waters there is another, less explored side to Cyprus.

Something for Everyone

More commonly known for its beach life, Paphos boasts many treasures from the ancient world; so many, that the entire city has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the must see places to visit in Cyprus. Believed by the Greeks that the harbour is the birth place of Aphrodite, her loveliness was created from the sea spray against the rocks; a temple honouring her was built just behind it.

Today all that remains of this once well loved temple is the pillars, however it prompted the town’s popularity and wealth and lead to the mosaic remains from Roman villas that have been uncovered here. Three of the most well know examples feature mythological scenes in a variety of stone, marble and glass and can be located close to the harbour.

Forgotten City

Once the capital city, Salamis offers up artefacts and architecture from the Romans, Persians, Egyptians and the Assyrians and is one of the most interesting archaeological sites Cyprus has to offer.

The ancient city is around one square mile in size extending along the coast line and gold coins bearing the name of Evagoras, 411 – 374 BC show the importance of the city. The colonnaded Gymnasium is one of the most monumental parts of the site along with the Auditorium with its 50 rows of seats and capacity for 15,000. Both from the Roman occupation there demand essential visiting.

More than Sun and Sea

Covering approximately 1/3 of western Cyprus, the magnificent pine forests of the Troodos Mountains offer both historical sites and modern activities. If you’re looking for places to visit in Cyprus to just “get away,” these forests might be it.

With nine churches and a monastery counted among its UNESCO’s world heritage sites, the most notable is Kykkos Monastery, famed for its riches, and Agios Nikolaos tis stegis, a Byzantine frescoed church, housing the most important set of wall paintings to survive on the island. The region offers hundreds of miles of well maintained trails and roads ideal for the more adventurous walker or mountain biker to explore.

For the less adventurous a number of scenic tours are now offered to take in regions such as Tillria, Marathasa and Solea Valleys, all of which lead to the alpine region of Troodos Mountains.

Beautiful in every season, the pine trees provide much needed shade in the summer, with beautiful picnic sites set deep in the forest. In the winter snow covers the higher regions, offering ski slopes and cross country runs to those who wish to combine mornings spent on the beach with afternoons on the slopes.

With so much more to Cyprus than the sun, sea and sand, it is a magical island that is truly full of surprises. Come and explore some of my recommended places to visit in Cyprus, or just let your feet take you and find your own serendipity – regardless, you’ll soon discover the magical legacy that Aphrodite left behind.

Photo Credits: Martin & Julia, Wim Coenen,robbie jim

What is tilt shifting? From our friends at Wikipedia:

Tilt-shift actually encompasses two different types of movements: rotation of the lens plane relative to the image plane, called tilt, and movement of the lens parallel to the image plane, called shift.

I think this concept is best illustrated – as they say, a picture says a thousand words.

Tilt Shifting Venice

I’ve always thought the orange roofs of Venice were beautiful, but tilt shifting forces you to really examine the details. Wow, that’s incredible.

Tilt Shifting Bangkok

If you’ve been to Bangkok, you know that it’s a little crazy – the traffic seems to never stop.  But time stands still in this wonderful tilt shifting shot.  It’s as if crossing the street might be safer than it actually is.

Tilt Shifting Toronto

One would think from this tilt shifting perspective that downtown Toronto was simply a tiny fishing village or hamlet tucked away up in the wilds of northern Canada.  Not so.

Tilt Shifting Hoover Dam

The Hoover Damn is one of the world’s largest man made structures.  But here in this tilf shifting photo, it really is just child’s play.

Tilt Shifting Golden Gate Bridge

It’s not just dams that can be tilt shifted – San Francisco’s iconc Golden Gate also looks a little less of a walk than it is on a windy day.

Tilt Shifting Reykjavik

I have to say I have never seen a cuter photo in my life – Reykjavik may be hard to spell (and pronounce), but it is gorgeous, in tilt shift or not.

Tilt Shifting Dubrovnik

Similar to our Venice picture, tilt shifting Dubrovnik really brings out the patterns and rich orange colour of the city. Reminds me of some of the gorgeous pictures of Croatia from one of our previous interview guests.

Tilt Shifting Scotland

The tiny fishing village of Crovie on Scotland’s northern east coast is so small you can’t even drive a car into it.  Tilt shifted, it looks as if it could easily be swept back out to sea.

Tilt Shifting Santorini

The iconic buildings and colours of Santorini, Greece aren’t lost at all in tilt shifting; even here it’s easy to see why this is one of the world’s romantic honeymoon destinations.

Tilt Shifting Ayers Rock

I have to laugh – even in tilt shifting, Ayers Rock – the biggest rock in the solar system, it seems – still actually looks pretty big.  Ok, well, it’s the size of a sandwich, but still – incredible!

Tilt Shifting Big Ben

London’s must-see Big Ben looks more like those cheesy Big Bens found in London’s superfluous souvenir shops.  If you find yourself in the British capital, don’t Donna’s tips for Serendipity London in contrast with my more frank perspective, London: Love It Or Hate It.

Tilt Shifting Bergen

Norway’s charming little seaside down of Bergen, a gateway to some of the world’s most beautiful fjords.  It’s just as cute in tilt shift as it is in person.

Tilt Shifting Musee D’Orsay

The best museum in Paris is without question the Musee D’Orsay.  Located right along the Seine, the building itself is a piece of art – an old railway station conversion.  The museum’s priceless sculptures seem so fragile here.

Tilt Shifting Berlin

One of the best views in Berlin is from the Reichstag, a glass-domed building erected during Berlin’s reconstruction in the past decade.  The view seems minuscule as seen from this incredible tilt shifting shot.

Tilt Shifting Amsterdam

The end of our tilt shifting world tour drops us off in Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.  It’s one of Europe’s busiest and most comfortable airports, yet here it doesn’t seem big enough for even a single flight.  Just priceless.

un_barcelones, 27147, rpeshetz, Karl Randay, Bjørn Giesenbauer, nonanet, SantiMB, EnKayTee, Timmy Toucan, Christine, Soft Reluanch, La Babi, Stew Bl@ck

Evelyn’s interview answers made me stop for pause, and I certainly hope both our male and female readers will appreciate their poignancy. Without further ado….

Could you introduce yourself for the few people who might not know you?

My name is Evelyn Hannon. I’m a 70 year old grandmother who has been travelling solo for 25 years. My passion is to inspire other women just starting out to travel safely and well and to connect female travellers around the world. I’ve acquired four permanent positions along the way:

1. Editor of Journeywoman.com, the largest online travel resource for women
2. Publisher/Editor of Journeywoman Online, a free monthly travel tip newsletter read by 71,000 women in a 100+ countries around the world.
3. Creator of HERmail.net an online directory of women worldwide willing to mentor other women coming to their part of the world
4. Consultant to Foreign Affairs Canada on ‘women+travel.’

Andy:  Those are some pretty cool jobs!

In the world of women and travel, it seems like there was Amelia Earhart and then there was Evelyn Hannon. What sparked your love and passion for travel?

In 1982 Fate tapped me on the shoulder. That’s the year I parted from my husband of 23 years. I was 42 years old at the time; the mom of two young adults on the verge of leaving the nest. Women generally didn’t travel on their own way back then. You needed a father or a husband ‘to take you.’ Since I had neither and since there were no books to teach me how to do it I had only myself to rely on. I took a deep breath, bought the cheapest plane ticket to Europe I could find, put on a backpack and went. My destination really didn’t matter because I cried most of that initial trip. However, I did meet so many good people along the way and I absolutely embraced the concept of ‘hitting the open road’ on every one of my 35 days away. I loved the challenge of coming into a new place and slowly finding out where the heart of that place lay. Painful or not, I was bitten by the travel bug in a big way. And, the rest is history. I’m now referred to as ‘the grandmother of womens travel’ and I absolutely love the title. And, it’s great to see all the young women who have now been inspired to write about women’s travel as well.

Andy:  It is strange how such wonderful things come from adversity.  We wouldn’t be sitting here having this conversation if a toxic working environment hadn’t led me to the path I am on now.  So cheers to life, and all of the things it brings, both good and bad.

You have such a way with words. What would you say to someone who’s a bit afraid of travel, or who just can’t seem to find them time (or maybe the money) to get away?

To those women who are a bit afraid, I offer this encouragement. I understand completely how you feel. I’ve been there and done that. However, I urge you to take a deep breath and start slowly anyway. Maybe a weekend away, close to home all by yourself. Cry if you feel afraid. Wallow in self-pity if that’s what you need to do. The most important thing is to do it.

Gradually extend your time away from home. Enroll in a course across the country, then after that go somewhere where you don’t know the language. All are hard to do but all are confidence building and cathartic. Be patient with yourself. I promise you’ll wake up one day and say, ‘Look at me; I’m a real solo traveller.’ and before you know it you’ll be telling other women what I’m telling you now.

However, if it’s just time and money that seems to be stopping you, all I can say is, ‘If there is a true will to do it, I assure you there is a way. If you haven’t done it yet, ask yourself what you are hiding from and try to face those fears. It’s like riding a bike. Once you learn how to do it properly, you’ll love it and you’ll never forget how to do it.

Andy:  Amen.  Just do it.  The fears that you have in your head?  They’re over exaggerated.  The worst thing that can happen probably isn’t much of anything.

What’s been your most inspirational travel experience?

I’ve been on countless journeys but my most inspirational travel experience has got to be travelling to China with my daughter to receive her adopted Chinese daughter, Lotus. I will never forget the moment that the nanny from the Xi’An orphanage put that sweet little 13-month old baby into my daughter’s arms. That journey was certainly not without it’s problems but it was worth every minute of discomfort that we experienced. Lotus is now eight years old and working on her orange belt in karate. I expect she’ll be able to take care of herself when she begins to travel solo.

Anything fun or unique coming up on your travel adventures?

In 2008, I joined the Semester At Sea community and circumnavigated the globe along with 750 students and 50 professors aboard the MV Explorer. In 108 days we stopped in 14 cities and touched four continents. The experience was extraordinary. This December I’ve been invited aboard once again for a 20-day Enrichment Voyage. This time we’ll be exploring the history, culture, and arts of Central America and (be still my heart!) going through the Panama Canal on December 25th. I have a funny feeling Santa will make an appearance on one of the ship’s decks. Can you think of a better Christmas present?

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.

Getting Some Fresh Air

A less popular section of the wall is the focus of this article, the Jinshanling and Simatai sections of the wall.

Jinshanling is one of the best preserved parts of the Great Wall with many of its original features still intact. Simatai is also well preserved and because of its steepness offers amazing photo opportunities. They are both fairly close to Beijing and typically not crowded. The best way to experience these sections to walk the Great Wall of China from Jinshanling to Simatai.

The hike between Jinshanling and Simatai is about 10.5km. If you’re of average fitness level, take a good amount of pictures and a lunch break, the hike should take about 5 hours. There are numerous tour companies offering this hike as part of a tour, and your hotel/hostel could probably arrange a trip as well, but why pay the extra money when you can do the hike easily on your own for less money.

Getting to Jinshanling

Start your day early and plan on this being an entire day’s activity. You’ll start at the Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station (东直门长途站) – on Subway lines 2 & 13. I’d recommend trying to get to the bus station by 8:00AM (if not earlier).

Bus No. 980 is the bus you will take to and from Beijing. The bus drops you off in Miyun County and the fare is 15RMB.

Warning: You may be the only person on the bus that gets off at the Miyun County stop. When I went, I was. It feels wrong, but this was the correct stop.

Once at Miyun, you can hire a taxi to bring you to the foot of Jinshanling. The price should be around 50-100RMB per car. If the price is much higher than this, please respectfully bargain.

Bargaining tip: If they’re recommending a large (unnecessary) van, see if they’ll take you in a smaller car for less.

Admission Fees

Because you will actually be hiking through 2 different sections of the wall, you’ll need to pay admission fees for both Jinshanling and Simatai.

Jinshanling admission fee: 50RMB (Mar. 15 – Nov. 15); 40RM (Nov. 16 – Mar. 14)
Simatai admission fee: 40RMB

Upon arriving at Jinshanling via taxi, you’ll pay the admission fee immediately. The Simatai ticket, however, will be paid during the middle of the hike. You won’t realize you’re entering a new section, you’ll just suddenly be confronted with a person selling tickets. This is normal and not someone trying to rip you off .

The Hike

Walking the Great Walk of China is gorgeous and full of innumerable amounts of photo opportunities. When you first step on to the wall, it will be difficult to put down your camera — try though, as you’ve got a long hike ahead! There will be plenty of great photo opportunities ahead.

The hike offers varied terrain. There will be a little bit of climbing at some points, walking over loose gravel, as well as through parts that have been completely restored. There will also be some serious uphill and downhill as well. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes!

Towards the end of the hike, you’ll reach a beautiful green reservoir. You’ll need to cross a bridge over the reservoir, which will cost another 5RMB per person. This is the beginning of the east section of Simatai.

Completing the Hike

Once you’ve crossed the bridge and entered the east section of Simatai, it’s time to begin thinking about how to get down to the Simatai parking lot.

Option 1: After crossing the reservoir, you’ll arrive to the 2nd watchtower. There, you’ll find a footpath back to the parking lot. This is the least expensive (but most tiresome) option.

Option 2: Also from the 2nd watchtower, there’s an exciting zip-line down to the parking lot. The zip-line runs 35RMB per person.

Option 3: If you’re up for it, you can continue climbing to the 8^th watchtower after the reservoir, where there is a cable car to take you down to the parking lot. The cable car will cost 30RMB per person.

Option 4: If you’re really still full of energy, after reaching the 8^th watchtower, you can climb 4 more watchtowers. However, there’s no way to get down to the parking lot from the 12^th watchtower, so you’ll need to return back to the 8^th watchtower and take the cable car.

Getting Back to Beijing

Once arriving to the Simatai parking lot, you can again hire a taxi back to Miyun county. The price should be around 50-100RMB per car again. Remember to politely bargain to reach a reasonable price.

Once back to Miyun county, you can finally relax on the same bus no. 980 back to Beijing’s Dongzhimen Long Distance bus station. Again the fare will be 15RMB to return.

Other Tips

• If neither of these sections seem interesting to you, you may also want to check out Juyongguan and Mutianyu. Both sections are also close enough to Beijing to see in a day-trip.
• Bring a backpack and pack it with water and snacks. The wall is deserted at most points and there are not many opportunities to buy food and water.

Final note: Just to set the argument straight, no you cannot see the Great Wall from space.

Note from the Editor: Reports are conflicting on whether portions of the hike mentioned here are open. Regardless of your chosen route, be sure to check with your travel agent, tour guide or local accommodation to confirm your plans before setting out to walk the Great Wall of China.

English Breakfast

Out of all the breakfast around the world options, we start deliberately with the classic English breakfast because of its ubiquity – perhaps it is a leftover bastion of the days when there was a little bit of Britain all across the world, but rarely is it that you find yourself in a country where you can’t get ahold of an English breakfast.  As the picture shows, English breakfast comes with toast, eggs, mushrooms, sometimes baked beans, bacon, sausage, grilled tomato, and hash browns.  If you were hungry before this plate of calorific fuel, you won’t be after.

Variation:  In Scotland, your Scottish Breakfast will come with black pudding and/or haggis.  Definitely a way to start your day!  And in Northern Ireland, you’ll get the “Ulster Fry” which has soda bread for toast.

American Breakfast

Is it just me, or is America the breakfast king?  I think would could have a  breakfast around the world lineup just for the Americans and their northernly neighbours alone!  Beyond the pastries and egg-y dishes, there’s nothing more emblematic of the U.S. of A. at breakfast time than a classic stack of pancakes (flapjacks?) with eggs and bacon.  Don’t forget that maple syrup (a staple of Quebec food) and a big ol’ scoop of butter.  In the states, you can get regular pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, blueberry pancakes, strawberry pancakes, pumpkin pancakes, and I’m sure there are others I’ve never heard of.

Slightly Off Topic Editorial Rant:  Dear America, not everyone wants cream in their coffee.  Ever heard of milk?

Turkish Breakfast

Out of all of the breakfast around the world options, if I’m on the road, Turkish is my favoruite if I can find it.  While I love a gut-stuffing serving of pancakes, it’s hard on the system – I need even more of a caffeine injection to keep me going, but Turkish breakfast is light, tasty, and still gives me the tastes I want.  Turkish breakfast mostly consists of spicy sausages or meat, feta cheese, olives, cucumbers, egg and tomatoes.  Sometimes there will be some extra fruit or veg, such as figs, depending on what part of Turkey your chef is from.

Burmese Breakfast

Out of all the breakfast around the world inspiration, it is Burma that is the most surprising, both for the breadth and depth of the options!  Consider the naan-like flatbread, pictured, which comes with bean sauce, or you can also just butter the bread.  Another tasty option is htamin jaw, which is rice with chickpeas.  Burma has its own Burmese doughnut, which you can dip in some palm syrup.  Yummy!

Greek Breakfast

For those of you with a sweet tooth, your breakfast around the world option should be set to Greece, where pastries and coffees are the order of the day.  Consider the options:  spanakopita ((spinach, feta, onion, egg, flavouring in a flaky pastry), tyropita (cheese, egg, filo dough), or bougatsa (custard, cheese, filo dough), paximathakia (a.k.a. biscotti), all washed down with a jet black coffee that could clear the grease off a car engine.  Greek breakfast is fairly small, as they work themselves up for the bonanza buffets they serve for late lunch and late dinners.

Australian Breakfast

Most of the time, breakfast in Australia resembles our other breakfast around the world candidates – either a classic English fry-up or an American pancake stack.  But some of my favourite memories from the land of Aus were starting off on our day’s long drive, stopping at one of the Old Country Store shopfronts that dot the country, and getting a glass of cold, flavoured milk (coffee flavour, chocolate, etc) and having a meat pie.  They have different kinds of meat, such as sausage or bacon, but a classic meat and brown gravy pie really hits the spot.  And perhaps that flavoured milk appeals to the kid in me.  Nobody mentions this, but to me it just feels… a little more Australian than anything else.

Hong Kong Breakfast

Ok, so I’m pandering the the tourist in me here, because typically the average Hong Kong local only goes to dim sum on a Sunday, for a special occasion.  But if you’re visiting, I say have dim sum as often as you like, because it’s one of the most unique of our breakfast around the world options, and it’s yummy.  Caffeine addicts take note that it’s usually green tea served, so if you have a lot of trouble with your chop sticks, you might want to have a cuppa before you head out.  Dim Sum is usually served in places called “teahouses,” and the menu will be full of tasty options. I’m not a dim sum expert, but a couple of favourites include cha-siu-bao (Cantonese barbecue pork buns), and dou fu fa (sweet tofu pudding with ginger sauce).  If you’re not sure, then just ask for an assortment of stuff, both sweet and savoury, and laugh your way through the experience.

Brazilian Breakfast

Breakfast around the world wouldn’t be complete without a shout out to Brazil.  That’s not because you’d find anything all that exotic here – Brazilian breakfast resembles European continental breakfast in many ways – but because of the juice.  A Brazilian friend of mine told me that the one thing he hates when he travels abroad is the lack of fresh fruit juice – because in Brazil, fresh fruit juice is always on offer.  At one place we had breakfast, I wanted to try all the juices, so I had about 6 glasses of juice on the table.  Nobody batted an eye – though perhaps they were wondering if I was on some strange health kick!  Some of these fruits are considered ’super fruits’ (translation: really healthy), so drink up!

French Breakfast

We end our tour of breakfast around the world in France, whose breakfast resembles more like our list of the world’s best desserts than it does breakfast.  In many countries, an alternative to breakfast is to have some classic French breads and pastries.  Who doesn’t know about pain au chocolat (yum), pain aux raisins (yum), croissants (yum), baguette with butter and jam (yum), brioche (yum), or any of the country’s other hundreds of flour and sugar based products?  Start your day off right.

What breakfast around the world was really special and memorable?  Tell me – leave a comment!

Photo Credits: Mike Fleming, Misterbisson, stormgrass, Mirmurr, Ed, AvlXyz, redpolkadot, Beedieu, xiaozhuli.

The reality is they go hand in hand. Lots of trains have been ‘named’ over the years, and even some of the more famous trains have went through several names. And trains without names often get named anyway – travel magazines like this one have to have something to call them, right?

So, if you’re thinking that a train getaway might be something you’re interested in, here are some recommendations for the world’s best named passenger trains and famous trains. I’ve been on many, but not all – but I know for a fact you won’t have a bad experience on any of these classic rides.

The Ocean

The Ocean, commonly called the Maritime Express, is one of Canada’s classic rail journeys and one of a couple of the country’s named passenger trains.  It’s one of the world’s famous trains because of a couple of reason: one is this incredible view that you can get from the Park Car, a ‘bubble’ bar at the back of the train.  It’s very cool to look at the rail signals and the great perspective you have on the little towns as they fly by.  The second reason?  You depart Montreal in the evening, and then wake up the next morning with the most incredible view of the rural Maritimes (depending on how late you sleep, you might be in Quebec or New Brunswick).  The best way to wake up ever!

The Eastern and Oriental Express

If you’ve heard of any of these famous trains, it’s this one.  You more than likely know about the Orient Express, but did you know there are several named passenger trains under this brand?  My recommendation is the Eastern & Oriental Express which takes you from Thailand, down through Malaysia, and into Singapore.  These is a fantastic area of Asia and a great way to explore some of these areas.  It’s one of the best luxury train experiences as well – an experience not to forget!

The Canadian

As far as named passenger trains go, you don’t get better branded than this.  The Canadian is VIA Rail’s flagship rail service from Vancouver to Toronto, and considered by many travellers as one best train experiences in general, let alone the incredible views, particularly as you pass through the Canadian Rockies.  One of the famous trains for good reason – a timeless trip.

The TranzAlpine

New Zealand doesn’t have very many trains, and the few that it does are named passenger trains.  The TranzAlpine crosses through the middle of the south island, and for those trying to explore south island without a car, it’s actually a useful transport route.  It’s one of the more famous trains of the country just because it has incredible views and traverses some crazy rail bridges – very cool.

The Indian Pacific

As one of the longest named passenger trains (in terms of route), the Indian Pacific carries you almost 3 thousand miles across the entire continent of Australia, from Perth to Sydney.  Travelling this far on rails might seem onerous, but getting anywhere in Australia takes awhile, so you might as well enjoy yourself and travel in style.   It’s one of the more famous trains to travel on Christmas, where the train stops in cities along the way to host festivals and singing as a way to thank the cities along the route that support it.  There’s usually an Aussie celeb or two involved.

The Blue Train

This is one of the named passenger trains that just exudes luxury and style.  It is truly one of the world’s most famous trains and it is a huge bucket list item for me.  The train has had a few different routes over the years, but at the moment the key flagship line is Pretoria-Cape Town; if you see the interior furnishings, you would think you are in a high rise luxury  hotel because they’re very much about the train experience.  One word: fabulous.

The Lunatic Express

As named passenger trains go, this one certainly has the most unique monkier, though it’s not one of the more famous trains as compared to others.  The Lunatic Express connects Uganda to Kenya, and the name comes from criticism that it received at the time, as it was felt the idea of a rail line in this area was forced upon them by British influencers from afar.  Despite the distractions and many construction difficulties – including man eating lions! – the railway launched and has continued to maintain its quality service, despite hiccups in the political situation of the area.  It’s responsible for the development of several cities along the route,

The Jacobite

One of the famous trains of Great Britain is one of the few named passenger trains with a couple of  names.  The Jacobite is the most scenic of railways in the UK, so iconic that it’s been called the Harry Potter Railway (even though it existed long before those books came out).  The route, from Fort William near Glasgow up to Mallig in the Highlands, was originally a railway to take people to the islands of the East Coast.  The most noteworthy point is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, probably the most photographed stretch of railway in the world.

The Empire Builder

I wasn’t familiar with many of the named passenger trains in the United States (there are several), but Chris Guillebeau mentioned this train, which has a very cool name.  It follows the trail of explorers Lewis and Clark from Chicago to Seattle/Portland on the west coast.    The Gassman Coulee Trestle is a beautiful bridge that you’ll cross along the way, and of course similar to The Canadian, you get some incredible mountain views.  As you can see from the picture above, this gem of the famous trains not only has picture windows, but seats that face the view.  Cool.

The Glacier Express

Europe has a massive number of named passenger trains – and a lot of railways in general, famous trains and not, but there’s one route that sticks out in my mind, Switzerland’s Glacier Express.  Winding its way through the alps from St. Moritz to Zermatt, home of the iconic Matterhorn, this is the only way to travel.  Much of the route is very snowy even during the summer, so you’ll get fantastic views year round.  Plus it’s hassle free travel.  It’s purely for tourism so at times it can feel a little touristy, but once you look out your picture window, you’ll not notice.

The Trans-Siberian

The last of our named passenger trains is also, unsurprisingly, one of the most famous trains in the world, the Trans-Siberian railway.  Starting in Saint Petersburg or Moscow, the train traverses across Asia and terminates in the Pacific port town of Vladivostok.  There are also alternative trains that go all the way to Beijing, China and Pyongyang, North Korea. At approx. 5,700 miles long, it is the world’s longest railway.  It’s actually more popular as a transport option for locals rather than foreigners, and besides passengers the rails are important for goods transportation.  For many, this is the ultimate train travel trip, so if you’ve got the time, get a ticket.

Photo Credits: Author, Public Domain, Joanne Probyn, SomeRandomNerd, amandabhslater, shrine 2010, cayetano, kafka4prez

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

No doubt your Nova Scotia sightseeing will either start or end in Halifax, the largest city on the peninsula and home to both the rail terminus from Montreal as well as an international airport.  I love Halifax – it has a wonderful feel to it, though I suspect it’s quite different in the winter!  A few Halifax favourites:

• The Waterfront:  Halifax has one of the world’s longest wooden boardwalk waterfronts; it takes about 20-30 minutes to walk from one end to the other.  That is if you don’t stop for ice creams, beavertails (yum!), pizza, snacks, museums, boat and ferry rides, live music, coffees, and the array of other people and things tempting you.  What’s the rush?  You’ll want to spend a lot of time down here – it’s awesome.  FYI, for Titanic lovers, the Maritime Museum is a must.
• Art Gallery of Nova Scotia:  Worth going to just to see the Maude Lewis house.  This Nova Scotian painter made a powerful impact with her story and her gorgeous works – so much so that her entire (tiny) house is now inside the gallery.  Incredible.
• Citadel Hill and Point Pleasant Park:  Two opportunities to get some exercise.  Citadel Hill is, well, the huge hill in the middle of town that you can’t miss.   Point Pleasant is an enormous forest located on the edge of the harbour, popular for dog walking as well as for just getting some fresh air.
• Harbour Hopper:  Pretty much anyone who’s been to Halifax has been on this ride a half on land/half in water tour.  It’s informative too.  If you have children with you, don’t forget to go for a spin on Theodore Tugboat.

I could write an entire article about the food in Halifax – in fact, I will – but don’t miss out on a donair (originally from Halifax), or try nachos.  Anywhere.  It seems all the local restaurants are in a heated competition to win the coveted ‘best nachos’ award.

August is a great time to visit, as the city hosts their popular busker festival.

Wolfville

Heading to the west coast, your Nova Scotia sightseeing taste buds will get a kick out of Wolfville – that’s because it’s another mini-cultural centre of Nova Scotia.  Time your visit for a Saturday morning, so you can enjoy the farmer’s market, where vendors from all around the nearby villages come in to sell their wares (samples available!).  This includes some of the wineries, so it makes for a fantastic experience.

Wolfville is also a great place to watch the tides of the Bay of Fundy.  These are the highest tides in the world, and it is simply impossible to describe it (but I’ll try).  It looks as if a massive swimming pool is being drained/filled.  You really can see the shoreline filling up against the coast.  For the best places to see the tides, including the tidal bore (a huge wave that comes in with the tide), the Bay of Fundy tourism website has some excellent FAQs.

Along the main street in Wolfville, you’ll find no less than three coffee houses, several popular restaurants, art galleries, ice cream parlours, and other shops.  And don’t miss a drive up to the lookout, for some killer views of the bay.  As a university town, there’s no shortage of things to do.

Annapolis Royal

Another wonderful Nova Scotia sightseeing stop along Nova Scotia’s east shore is the small village of Annapolis Royal. When I mean small, I meant it – the town is nothing more than one street that wraps around a corner of the Bay of Fundy.  But what the town lacks in size it makes up for in hospitality.  Some things to do:

• Visit the rose gardens, some of the nicest and probably the largest rose garden in Nova Scotia.
• Walk around the hills of Fort Anne, the oldest fort in Canada.  Indeed, many of the buildings in Annapolis Royal, with their very traditional architecture, are some of the oldest buildings in the country.
• Have a coffee and a cake at Lucy Sweets, a wonderful old building with the best coffee in town.  Chat up the owner, Tina, who has some great stories about the people and history of Annapolis Royal.
• If you’re hungry, the Garrison House Inn is not only a wonderful place to stay, but they have some of the best fish in town.
• Walk along the boardwalk.  It isn’t obvious there is one, as it sits lower than the street level.  You can enter from behind the Kings Theatre or behind the Police Station.  Sitting on a bench here is the perfect place to watch the sunset.

Digby Neck

If you really want to get “out there,” then take your Nova Scotia sightseeing sights to the extreme and head down Digby Neck.  This “peninsula on a peninsula” juts out from the corner of Nova Scotia, and it’s a great place to see wildlife (whale watching is very popular) and enjoy Mother Nature.  If you go all the way to the end of the peninsula you can access not one but two islands – Long Island and Briar Island.  The lighthouses on the islands are just as iconic as some of the more popular ones closer to Halifax – and there are a few, as historically the area has been plagued by fog and shipwrecks.

Lunenburg & Mahone Bay

After Peggy’s cove, the most popular roadtrips from Halfiax to enjoy some Nova Scotia sightseeing would have to be Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, and for good reason – they’re beautiful bay villages.  Lunenburg is an old German town with some incredible architecture – the colours and vividness is stunning – but you’ll also be able to enjoy some great accommodation and hotels as well as food.  Top recommendations included the Lunenburg Arms to sleep, and to satisfy your hunger try Sweet Expressions (coffee, cakes), Salt Shaker Deli (pizza, sandwiches), and Large Marge’s (diner food).  Mahone Bay is smaller but similar and is known for its iconic churches along the shore.  Don’t miss the back harbour trail in Lunenburg – and if you’re feeling overly ambitious, you can actually walk from Lunenburg to Mahone Bay.

Peggy’s Cove

A quick mention for a Nova Scotia sightseeing classic, Peggy’s Cove.  This is the most photographed lighthouse in the world – perhaps because it’s simple and sits on top of a sheet of rock that juts out quite haphazardly into the sea.  In fact, it is slightly dangerous, as the waves can come pounding and take anyone standing on them out to see.  The village is very, very touristy and very crowded, but it is worth a walk around to take in some of the older fishing houses.

Guysborough

My tip for the best place in Nova Scotia, sightseeing or for just relaxing, has to be Guysborough, also know as the Authentic Seacoast.  This little village has so much hospitality you won’t know what to think – from the people who wave at you as you drive through town, to the friendly faces in all of the local establishments .  Some highlights:

• If you like cakes and treats, then you’ll have to stop into the Days Gone By bakery and ask them for what’s fresh.
• The Rare Bird Pub has some tasty pub food – but they also have a great view of the habour, where you can watch all the happenings going on.  There is often a live music, sometimes inside and sometimes the children playing traditional fiddles down along the marina.
• I’m not a golfer, but you don’t have to be to appreciate how beautiful Osprey Shores golf course is.
• The best restaurant in Nova Scotia, I must say, is at the Des Barres Manor, a beautiful manor home turned B&B. With an award-winning wine list, incredible hospitality, and one of the most comfortable beds ever, it is worth the drive to Guysborough just to experience this gem.  (You can buy the sheets in their craft shop / art gallery on Main Street. I’m ordering!)

The Cabot Trail

No Nova Scotia sightseeing list would be complete without a final stop in Cape Breton Island, the island just north of the Nova Scotia mainland and connected by a causeway.  I don’t think there’s a bad view anywhere in Cape Breton – you’ll either have beautiful lakes on one side of you or blue ocean on the other.  From the world’s biggest fiddle in Sydney to stepping back in time to the 18th century at the Fortress of Louisbourg, Cape Breton is amazing.  By far the biggest and best attraction is the Cabot Trail, which is highly regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful drives, even more dramatic than other popular drives like the Pacific Coast Highway.

Editorial Disclosure:  Portions of this trip were sponsored by Nova Scotia Tourism.  This sponsorship in no way affects the editorial content of this piece.

Could you introduce yourself?

Hi I’m Dan Haneveer, I run a travel blog called Voyagner. I won’t regale you with my travel cred, it’s not that extensive but it is passionate. My first trip was in 2008 to SE Asia and I’ve returned a few times. The history and people of the places I visit is what I find most interesting and doing things that I thought I never would or could do.

Andy: Dan, there’s badges or merits or judging around here.  Passion is all that matters!  Travel more….with passion!

You try to advise people to “try something different next time you travel.” That’s great advice – any tips for tackling that challenge?

There are so many options open to us when we travel but we tend to end up in a bit of a routine regardless. There are often a bunch of ways to see a place but usually one way is most common, think land, sea and air. Just take full advantage of the time and oppurtunities that you have traveling you don’t get at home.

Andy: Agreed.  Often it is very easy to get tied up in a “must see, must do” list, whereas some of my best experiences I couldn’t have planned, organised, or even known about unless I was there in that place, in that moment.  Be where you are.

Your site also talks about “seek adventure.” Adventure means different things to different people – what does it mean for you, and what would you say to someone trying to find their own next travel adventure?

Yeah I think you can experience adventure in many different ways, it is completely relative. In the context of travel the adventure I seek is in exploring places in as many facets I can. The other thing is the old addage of “it’s the journey, not the destination”, go overland, use different transport and divert from the most direct route and when you get there make it about the destination too. “Never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts, you know what? It’s probably worth it.“. Richard, The Beach.

Andy:  I love that quote – I actually featured the entire film in an earlier article, On Finding Paradise…

You often go off the beaten tourist trek. How do you find out where to go, and any real favourites? [A couple of countries great for off-beat travel would be great, and where to go in each]

I come across places in magazines like National Geographic or on blogs and when something interests me I fire up Google Earth find it and add a placemark, normally I take a look around the surrounding area and there are other things of equal interest, Wikipedia and Wikitravel are also great and of course word of mouth.
I couldn’t really name a favourite I’ve only tasted a tiny bit of cake so far. I think Indonesia is a very underrated destination there is a lot of history and culture there and India also, they both receive about 1/3 of the amount of visitors Thailand does but are much bigger countries so I’m sure going off-beat would be even easier than in Thailand.

You’re based in Tasmania. What’s life like there? Any travel tips for when we come visit?

It’s a funny place Tasmania, it is marketed as The Natural State but is known for forestry issues. I think it is sort of seen as New Zealand’s slightly less attractive sister, think less snowy mountain peaks and no bungee jumping. It is a great place for outdoorsy people, beaches on the east coast, the UNESCO listed wilderness on the west and recently listed Convict sites and some unique wildlife too. Only a small percentage of international visitors to Australia visit Tasmania.

Andy:  I’m one of those who didn’t go to Tasmania when I was last in Australia.  I’ll be back, I promise – put the kettle on, Dan!

What’s been your most inspirational travel experience?

In Yogyakarta I had two guides one took me to all the places where he gets a commission if I buy something and would say things like “you not buy from one person, one more person not have income today”, when we travel in the developing world we see our privliged life in a different way but I resent being guilt tripped for it, I brushed off that guide for the one who took me into his home, ate with me and showed me some unique places in and out of the city.

Thanks Dan, I admire your practical yet aim-high perspective. Folks, to learn more about Dan, visit his website, Voyagner, or follow him on Twitter, @DanHaneveer.

Shop

As mentioned, Dusseldorft is known as a shopping and fashion capital, so where else to start your Dusseldorf sightseeing but with a shopping spree? Königsallee (the “Ko”) is one of the oldest streets, with the most expensive shops and where the city established its reputation.

Shadowstrasse is where you’ll find all of the best German department stores, whereas Carlstadt has flea markets, art, and antiques.

Where the city really shines though are in its futuristic shopping malls, which are the perfect way to get your materialistic fix. Ko-Galerie, Sevens (pictured), stilwerk, and Schadow Arkaden are all worth a look – even if you’re a window shopper.

Walk

You know how much I like to talk, so its no surprise my favourite Dusseldorf sightseeing experience is to just walk along the Rhine.  From the old town, head across the Rheinknie Bridge, then stroll along the empty park on the waterfront (which has fantastic views of the city across, naturally), then head back across into town on the Oberkasseler Brdige.  On a sunny day, there’s nothing better, really.

Eat

It is probably no surprise that many come to Dusseldorf, sightseeing their way through sausages!  Though I suggest you look for the “restaurant with a queue” on the main street, the Schweine Janes.  Here you can try “Schweinehaxe” – pork knuckle.  It’s far tastier than it sounds, trust me.

Schwarzwaldstube is a top restaurant – their sister restaurants elsewhere have made it on lists of the best restaurants in the world.  Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with a sausage with curry-flavoured ketchup (a currywurst).

If you’re kind of sick of meat-and-potatoes, then pop into Pizzeria Lupo for fresh, made-to-order food fired pizza.

Drink

The most noteworthy Dusseldorf sightseeing spot, and the reason this city is on the itinerary of many backpackers, is the Längste Theke der Welt - or the “longest bar in the world.”  That’s not to say that Dusseldorf has some enormous oversized pub, but there is one street in the old city (altstadt) which is lined with bars from start to finish.  The drink of choice is Alt, a dark beer you can only get in/around Dusseldorf.  Füchschen, Schlüssel, and Uerige all brew their own beer on premises.    Not alt beers are the same, so I suggest you try a couple to see what you think.

See

Another popular Dusseldorf sightseeing option is architecture.  The city has both new and old buildings that are fairly noteworthy and worthy of visiting, if nothing else for the great photo opportunity.  Recommendations include:

• Gehry Buildings:  Frank Gehry is well known for his architectural work, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or the Dancing House in Prague.  He also has a series of buildings in the “Media Harbour” area of Dusseldorf,
• Burgplatz: This central square has several interesting architectural sites. First have a look at the city monument, a complicated piece of artwork that explores a lot of the history if the city.  But crowning the square is the Dusseldorf City Hall.  Built in the 16th century, it is now a parliamentary building.
• Rhine Tower:  This not-exactly-beautiful tower defines the Dusseldorf skyline, and the viewing deck offers 360 degree views – worth going on a clear day, for sure.

Play

Dusseldorf sightseeing doesn’t get any crazier than in July, when the carnival comes to town. It’s the Biggest Fun Fair on the Rhine, and that’s actually it’s name – Größte Kirmes am Rhein. It is held mid-July for a week and features balloons, fair rides, lots of beer,good carnival food, and a finale fireworks display on the last evening of the fair.    It’s incredible and a must-experience for the summer.

If you find yourself here in Christmas, Dusseldorf also has a very lovely Christmas market.  Well worth the visit if you’re also in Cologne (who have the best Christmas markets in Germany, in my opinion).

Photo Credits: Retinafunk, Dirk Hartung, emptyhighway, Bernt Rostad, Flippio Salamone, FvS

Hiking the Gatineau Hills (Quebec)

If you do nothing else and take no other Ottawa day trips, please promise me you’ll go for a hike up in the Gatineau Hills. Second only to Parliament Hill, this is one of the best things to do in Ottawa, without a doubt.  Start off your tour with a visit to the Mackenzie King Estate, with its tea room and unusual “ruins” (Mackenzie bought them and put them here – beautiful yet strangely out of place).  Then hit the trails – King Mountain Trail is a good one for several scenic points in a little over an hour’s walk.  There are also several lookouts.  In winter these trails become some of Canada’s best cross country skiing.

Burritts Rapids (Ontario)

Certainly one of the most unique stops on my tour of Ottawa day trips was the tiny, tiny hamlet of Burritts Rapids. The city itself is on an island in the river!  The best way to experience this village is to park at the Burritts Rapids lock (Lock 17), and then walk along the island trail until you arrive into the town.  It’s the strangest experience – you’re walking along in a quaint, silent forest and all of a sudden you’re in the middle of a town.  The town is pretty quiet too – there’s a city beach about the size of one beach blanket, several Victorian houses, and an old swing bridge that connects the town to mainland.

Wakefield (Quebec)

For the best village feel and to get away from the city on your Ottawa day trips, I can’t more highly recommend Wakefield.  It’s a very small village that is mostly known as the terminus for the stream train which runs from Hull (more info).  For me the real Wakefield highlight is the Old Wakefield Inn, a luxury hotel that serves up fantastic breakfast right along the stream that once powered this mill.  Once you’ve eaten, be sure to walk around the property – it’s gorgeous.  The other must-see is the covered bridge (pictured); these seem to have fallen out of fashion, so it is wonderful to see one that is looking in pristine shape.

Merrickville (Ontario)

Merrickville claims to be “Canada’s prettiest village.”  While I’d say that’s a long shot (I’d have to give that title to Victoria), it still makes the list for great Ottawa day trips.  The lock here is quite active, and the village itself has several crafty shops and stores, perfect for a souvenir for yourself.  There’s a classic English pub and other eateries as well, but if you can manage some decent weather, a picnic on the tables near the canal are the perfect choice.

Smiths Falls (Ontario)

If you want to see an alternative vision of Canada’s capital, consider Smiths Falls for one of your Ottawa day trips.  Smith Falls was once one of the places under consideration for the Canadian capital due to its central railway access and convenient location near the border of Ontario and Quebec, the two more powerful provinces of the time.  Today railway fans can enjoy the railway museum, otherwise relax and watch the Rideau River rushes by.

Mattawa (Ontario)

Mattawa means “meeting of the waters,” as it is where the Mattawa and Ottawa rivers converge.  It’s one of the nicest Ottawa day trips because the city heavily promotes itself with a number of attractions, including wooden statues of many of the historic figures in this area.  Mattawa as a settlement has been around for quite some time as it was a popular stopping point for explorers of days gone by.   The last weekend of July is Voyageur Days, where you can enjoy live music and fireworks.

Bonnechere Caves (Ontario)

Tired of being above ground?  Then get some perspective and head into the earth in Eganville in this one of the more experiential Ottawa day trips.  Discovered in the mid 1800s, these caves were the talk of curious explorers, but at the time the caves were filled with water and technology did not permit them to investigate further.  The caves are known for their fossils; want to make the experience perfect?  Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after your excursion down under.

All photos by author except Smiths Falls (seaan), Mattawa (CP Storm), and the Caves (greencolander)