Don't Fly Go! | Category Archives: Travel Inspiration

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December 26, 2017 by Chase Vandros

5 Vacation Hot Spots in Ecuador

When considering a vacation to South America, Ecuador does not normally come up first on bucket lists. Adventure seekers and nature lovers would be remiss to overlook this marvelous country filled to the brim with sights left relatively unspoiled by modern civilization. It can be a bit difficult knowing where to go and what to see first without a travel guide to Ecuador, so here are a couple of sights that should be on any prospective traveler’s list.

Baños de Agua Santa

Sometimes referred to as the “Gateway to the Amazon,” Baños is a pleasant town sitting at the base of a volcano. The town is named for its numerous waterfalls and natural hot springs. The town has become a popular spot for spas, making good use of the abundance of thermal waters in the area. It is also a great spot for outdoor extreme sports such as zip-lining, rafting, mountain biking, bungee jumping, and rappelling.

Cuyabeno National Reserve

Cuyabeno is a national park located in the Amazon tropical rain forest and is famous for being one of the most bio-diverse areas on the planet. Visitors can take a canoe ride down the Amazon river and explore the dense jungle on one of many guided tours. Tourists can spend evenings in one of several comfortable eco-lodges in the heart of the rain forest, surrounded by trees and animals. It’s a wild experience that is sure to to please folks that love to go wildlife spotting.

Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are a cluster of volcanic islands located off the coast of Ecuador, well known for the plethora of plants and animals unique only to these islands. The Galápagos offer hiking, snorkeling, diving, and bird-watching opportunities. Charles Darwin famously visited these islands and his observations of the region helped him to develop his theory of evolution through natural selection.

Mantañita

Had too much of plants and animals and want to reconnect with civilization instead? Mantañita is the location to head to for those looking to party. Located on the Santa Elena Penuinsula, Mantañita also offers incredible waves for surfing enthusiasts. After a day of surfing visitors can explore a variety of bars and nightclubs into the wee hours. The party is never far whether on the beach or in one of the restaurants lining the streets, the beer is always flowing in this bohemian city.

The Quilotoa Loop

One of the best places to hike in Ecuador, the Quilotoa Loop is a gorgeous crater lake. After hiking the circle of Andean mountains, would be adventurers are treated to crystalline green water with a mirror-like surface. Those that make it to the lake can enjoy kayaking and camping before making the trek back over the mountains. It is a hidden slice of paradise that is absolutely worth the trip.

These are only a small number of the sights available in Ecuador with many more opportunities for eager tourists looking for a little excitement and adventure. It’s a great vacation spot to choose for those looking to enjoy the beauty of nature.

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September 15, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Oh Canada! Top Vacation Cities

By any measure, whether it is economic, quality of living, friendliness, or sheer beauty, Canada is a top rated country. Its mixture of high tech and cosmopolitan big cities, charming smaller towns and rural expanses make it an ideal place to plan a short visit or even stay longer.

At the core of its allure are the ten Canadian provinces that make up Canada. The largest of these is Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. Each has its own reasons why it is special. Here is a look at the largest cities in these provinces and reasons why you should book a flight to Canada.

Toronto, Ontario

The number one Canadian province in terms of population and international flair is Ontario and its jewel is its capital city, Toronto. This burgeoning megalopolis is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, with nearly 100 skyscrapers currently being built, and most in the city no older than 25 years. Toronto attracts the top businesses because of its winning blend of beauty, attractions, and and quality of life.

The city features the famous CN Tower which sits near its center, and its Toronto Maple Leafs professional hockey team is a perennial favorite to compete for the NHL’s Stanley Cup. Toronto is also home to one of the world’s top film festivals and is Canada’s home for culture. More museums and galleries reside here than anywhere is Canada.

No matter what cuisine you love, you will be overwhelmed with the selection in Toronto. The city boasts Canada’s top chefs and every cuisine is represented here.

At night, the city comes alive with nightclubs, concerts, and bars lighting up the city and music filling its night air. Partying goes on in the city nearly every night of the week.

Toronto also excels as a green city. There are parks and green spaces throughout for inhabitants to come in direct contact with nature. Surrounding the city are beaches and forests to be accessed in the summer, and mountains to be climbed and utilized for winter sports.

So what can’t you do in Toronto? Not much because Toronto has it all.

Montreal, Quebec

Perhaps no province it touted as a year round getaway more than Quebec and its capital city Montreal. The city’s combination of attractions and festivals makes it the perfect destination. And, whether your aim is romance, sightseeing or fun with the family, the city can’t be beat.

Montreal is built on a mountain island, which means that there is water everywhere, and of course water sports rule during the warm summer months. The city also has two official languages, English and French which are mixed in nearly every sentence heard here.

Montreal also has four large universities and with so many college students, it is the youngest city in Canada.

The city prides itself on accommodating visitors in every budget range, so you will find lots of great options for hotels and restaurants here, whether you are a backpacker or a princess.

The main attraction of the city however is its culture. There are more than 90 festivals here every year and the amount of culture based attractions from museums to galleries are only surpassed by Toronto.

Vancouver, British Columbia

On the west coast of Canada sits one of the most beautiful and highly regarded cities in the world, Vancouver. This city of nearly two million boasts a plethora of beautiful landmarks including: the North Shore Mountains, Mount Baker in its background, English Bay, and the gorgeous Vancouver Island.

Vancouver city is filled with all of the amenities of a top city; fine restaurants, great museums and galleries, cafes, bistros, and a bustling nightlife. The city also has its own professional hockey team and an abundance of parks.

British Columbia has the mildest weather in Canada so there is no guarantee that there will be constant snow during the winter. However, this is not to say that there isn’t abundant skiing and winter sports. In fact B.C. has Canada’s most visited ski and snowboarding area, Whistler Blackcomb, which has hosted the Winter Olympics.

During the warmer months, Vancouver plays host to fishermen, bikers and hikers who take advantage of its abundant rivers, trails and mountain passages.

The city is also one of the top filming destinations. In fact you probably have seen Vancouver in more films that just about any other city. Vancouver is perhaps the most complete city for visitors in Canada.

No matter which Canadian city you choose to visit, you will have a fantastic time and have wonderful lifelong memories.

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September 5, 2017 by Chase Vandros

How to Realize Your Travel Dreams

If you have dreams of one day traveling but you feel as though your life doesn’t lend itself to getting away from it all and starting again in another country, think again because it is most definitely possible. Regardless of what your financial, your family or your own personal situation is, there is always a way to make your dreams happen and especially so when it come stop traveling.

I myself was 28 when I first left home and hit the road after leaving my job and whilst it was most definitely scary, it was the best decision that I have ever made. If this sounds like something that you would like to do, here are your choices.

Working

There is nothing to say that you have to quit your job and go travel the world on a wing and a prayer and in actual fact, you could quite easily find a job abroad. There are literally million of people abroad right now working in a profession that they love, in a country that is unfamiliar to them. You could do travel nursing, you could be an au pair, you could be an accountant, an engineer or even a teacher in another country, the skills are largely the same. The possibilities are endless in terms of what you could do abroad and if your heart is truly set on it, you will find a way for it to happen.

Volunteering

What better way to see the world than to do so whilst helping out some of the world’s largest major charities. This is exactly what you can find if you decide that you can leave home and join up with one of the numerous international charities in order to help out and travel. There are conservation projects in Central America, poverty projects in India or Africa or you could even help out with animal rights issues in Asia. The world is quite literally your oyster when you decide to volunteer and if you have some good in your heart and a desire to travel, this is the perfect way in which you can do both at the same time.

Studying

If you have ever wanted to expand your knowledge then you can do just that with some studying abroad. There are many schools and universities that accept foreign students and you will be able to learn, explore and live life like a local in a foreign country.

Backpacking

If you are able to save up enough money, there is nothing at all wrong with strapping on your backpack and heading out into the world to explore. Contrary to popular belief, there is no age limit on backpacking and if it is the world that you want to see, the very best way of doing so is by wandering around it with a sense of absolute freedom, which is just what backpacking is all about.

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August 25, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Natural Wonders to Knock Your Socks Off!

The world is a beautiful place, but the average person doesn’t get to see much of it. Chances are you spend most of your days stuck in a workplace, before going home to sleep and repeating again. This is why travel is so important, it allows you to break up the monotony of daily life and get out there and see the beautiful planet we live on. If you’re looking for a trip that’s really going to take your breath away and allow you to create memories that will last a lifetime, here are some of the most awe inspiring wonders of the world.

Northern Lights

Just about everyone has ‘see the northern lights’ scribbled on their travel bucket list. And as one of the most phenomenal natural wonders on the planet, it’s easy to see why. The Northern Lights or ‘Aurora Borealis‘ are collisions between the sun-charged gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere. This creates the most spectacular show of lights in colors of blue, green, yellow, purple and pink. You can see the Northern Lights in lots of countries around the world Alaska, Denmark, Scotland, Greenland, Canada, Finland, and Iceland are just a few of them. The key to getting it right is to go at the right time of year and at a time when the weather conditions are right. So if seeing the lights is high on your list, don’t leave it until the last night of your trip in case it’s overcast.

Serengeti Wildebeest Migration

The great Serengeti wildebeest migration is a predictable annual pattern in which over a million wildebeest (accompanied by gazelle, zebra, and impala) move to find fresh grazing and better water. They are on the move starting in April right through to September where they begin to spread out across the heart of the Serengeti National park. Book today if you want to see this amazing natural phenomenon, you can go on safari in the park and witness this as well as tonnes of other majestic animals.

Sea Turtle Hatchling Release

Another incredible natural sight when it comes to animals is to see baby sea turtles making their way into the ocean. Be sure to check the dates and any updates to give yourself the best chances of seeing this, but you have the opportunity in places like Malaysia, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Turkey amongst others.

Niagara Falls

Niagara falls is of course one of the wonders of the natural world, and is breathtaking sight that will really make you appreciate nature. The falls are actually a collection of three waterfalls, these sit between Ontario in Canada and New York in America. Perfect photo opportunities or to just sit and take in to marvel at. There’s nothing like feeling so small on the planet to make you realize your personal problems really aren’t that important!

Which of the world’s natural wonders would you most like to see? Which of these would interest you most?

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June 20, 2017 by Chase Vandros

Bored Of Beach Holidays?

A relaxing holiday in the sun isn’t for everybody, some of us get bored sitting around doing nothing all day. After a week, you’ll be itching to do something active again. If you want to avoid going out of your mind before the holiday is over, you’ll need to plan something a bit more active for yourself. There are plenty of great activity holidays all over the world, these are some of the best.

Bored Of Beach Holidays? Go skiing instead.

Pixabay

Skiing is great fun and there are places all over the globe that you can go to do it. You can get different experiences depending one where you go so do a bit of research beforehand. If it’s something that you enjoy a lot, you could try to get a ski instructor course qualification. That way you can teach skiing and stay out there for longer periods.

Cycling

Cycling is a brilliant way to get to know a new country while staying active at the same time. You can cover a lot more ground on a bike than you can on foot. There are places all over that are great for cycling holidays, but some of the best ones are in Europe. France is particularly good, there are brilliant paths in the Alps that take you through some lovely picturesque areas. If you fancy something a little more extreme, why not go on a mountain biking holiday in Austria. It isn’t well known as a place to go cycling but it’s great. There are cable cars that will take you up the mountains and from there you can follow lots of separate paths of varying difficulty. Most of the trails are close to the airport so accessibility is good.

Hiking

If cycling is a bit too hectic for you and you prefer something that is a bit slower, a hiking holiday is good for you. You get all of the same benefits that you would from a cycling holiday but it’s a bit easier on the legs. Britain has lots of brilliant hiking trails, especially in Scotland and Wales, but one of the best places to go in the world is Romania. There are plenty of stunning lakes and valleys to hike through but be warned, some of it is fairly tough so it’s only suitable for experienced hikers.

Surfing

Pexels

Hiking isn’t all that cool and if you think you’re way too hip for that, surfing might be a bit more your speed. Most people tend to think of the USA when they are thinking of places to go surfing. While places like California are brilliant for surfing, there are other more interesting options. Portugal is a surprisingly good surfing location, especially the secluded resorts set in a valley on the west coast. They make a nice change from the more hectic resorts in America and they also offer lessons so don’t worry if you don’t know what you’re doing. After a long day of surfing, you can also take part in yoga sessions to help you relax.