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kivaember · 5 years

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what about a date? Where would aza go for a date vs where would aym go? Aza trying to be romantic and cater to aym shenanigans ensue...I hope you writing juices flow freely at any rate

IT DID INDEED HELP thank you ;;w;; here you go!

“You… made a reservation at the Bismark…?”

Aza looked a little disgruntled at Bluebird’s open displayof shock, crossing his arms over his chest as he tilted his chin stubbornly, “Yeah,for a romantic dinner.”

Bluebird reeled at the revelation that Aza even knew what a romantic dinner was – thiswas the same person who thought a good first date for him and Aymeric was to fighta pack of Behemoths (which ended as disastrously as one would expect) – and squinteda little suspiciously at him. Aza didn’t just do these things unprompted. Something was afoot here.

“How’d you even geta reservation?” she asked, “Would’ve thought they’d take one look at your scruffy,blood-stained mess of an outfit and kick you out before you got a word inedgewise.”

“Lyngsath owed me a favour,” Aza huffed, “Also, hello?Warrior of Light here?”

“Ah,” Bluebird nodded slowly, “Exploiting your fame. Verynice.”

“Moving on,” Aza sighed, “I didn’t tell you about it so youcould mock me. I told you because,um, well, you’re right about the scruffy outfit…”

Bluebird perked up, utterly delighted, “Is this happening?Are you asking me for fashion advice?Me?”

“It was either you or Tataru, and I’m not opening myself tobe ambushed by a pack of tailors again!” Aza hissed, looking adorably flusteredat that memory. That’s right, Tataru had arranged for him to be fitted for alovely outfit – too bad he got spooked by the, uh, aggressiveness of the tailorsand hid up a tree for six hours, so that nice outfit still remained a conceptin Tataru’s ambitious little mind, “Just help me!”

“Okay, okay…” Bluebird rolled her eyes, “Though, you’reasking a lot. You’re gonna whine no matter what I pick.”

“I won’t whine.”

“Oh?” Bluebird raised her eyebrows, “What if I say, ‘noarmour’?”

Aza, predictably, made a face, “But-”

“No armour,” Bluebird repeated, unable to hold back thelarge, shit-eating grin curling her mouth, “No breastplate, no gambeson, no leatherand no weapons.”

“What if-”

“If you can sneak it into your breeches without anyone beingthe wiser, then sure,” Bluebird relented, because Aza was probably going toslip in an entire armoury in his smallclothes otherwise. She long learned thatsome things you needed to make concessions on, when it came to Aza, “But you’renot bringing that stupid meat cleaver.”

“Fine,” Aza said sullenly.

Bluebird tapped her bottom lip in thought then, looking herbrother up and down. He was wearing his usual adventurer fare – all darkleather with a few suspicious stains here and there, as well as clear signs ofhasty repair, topped off with a pitted, old breastplate that had seen betterdays. His gear was well-worn, but reliableand well cared for – but to the less experienced eye, he looked like some hoboadventurer that didn’t have two coins to rub together. Definitely not the outfit for a romantic date in a high-endrestaurant.

The problem was, understandably, Aza disliked being vulnerable in open, public spaces. He had anxietyproblems, and being clad in sturdy, protective clothing mitigated that. Puttinghim well out of his comfort zone, in an unfamiliar situation, while alreadybeing mildly anxious for things to go right… it was a disaster in the making. Probablynot as bad as the Behemoth Date, but… disastrous in a different way.

Bluebird smiled. There was no way she was going to miss witnessingthis dumpster fire.

“Right, I’m not an expert on fine dining,” she said slowly, “ButI think I can rustle up an outfit that won’t immediately peg you as some crazy mountain hermit.”

“Hey.”

“Unless you wanna go to Tataru?”

“… I’m fine, thanks.”

Bluebird clapped her hands together, smiling brightly, “Great! So, c’mon! We’re gonna go shoppingfor your perfect date outfit.”

“Urgh.”

–

The Bismark was theplace to go, if you had the patience to wait for a reservation opening and themoney to back it up. It boasted a diverse menu, with dishes from all over thestar made by skilled, experienced chefs from the Culinary Guild. Commonly, ithosted people of great import from the city states, which, naturally, began toinclude Ishgard now that they had opened their frozen gates to the EorzeanAlliance at large, be they successful merchants, famous mercenaries or even Ul’dahnpoliticians.

Still, despite the time it had been since Ishgard’s slowacceptance into Eorzea as a whole, this was still Aymeric’s first visit to theplace. It was both familiar yet strange – parts of it reminded him of the sophisticateddining halls for the Ishgardian nobility, yet it wasn’t stiff about it. Set out on an open deck with a lovely view of theLimsa Lominsan decks and the coast of Vylbrand, the smell of salt air on awarm, coastal wind despite the late hour, the stars above glittering bright ina purple-blue streak across the navy blue sky… it was leagues above any grey-stonedIshgardian dining hall, stifled with traditional formality.

But what reallymade it was Aza. His partner hadreally come through for him tonight.

“So, um, how do you like the place?” Aza asked him almost shylyafter their starters were served and their wine glasses filled, “I know it’snot as fancy as that Ishgardian place…”

“I love it,” Aymeric said easily, “Far more relaxing, forone.”

Aza smiled, clearly relieved, and Aymeric took a moment toadmire the look on him. For once his partner wasn’t stubbornly clad in armour(though, no doubt armed, as he had the disconcerting ability to smuggle in allmanner of knives in his smallclothes without detection) and was dressed in arather simple yet flattering affair of shirt and trousers. It looked distinctlyGridanian in some way, but Aymeric couldn’t place the exact style.

Whatever it was, it looked nice. Aza looked nice – not to say he normally didn’t, but even Aymeric wanted to see him in something that wasn’twell-worn, blood-stained armour from time to time.

“You look lovely,” Aymeric murmured, “Who dressed you?”

Aza’s smile eased into something wry, “Couldn’t I havedressed myself?”

Aymeric just looked at him.

“…okay, fine, itwas Bluebird,” Aza grumbled, his bottom lip jutting out just so. Aymeric had a fleeting urge to nip at it.

“She did a finejob,” Aymeric purred, picking up his wine glass and hiding his smile behind itsrim, “Very fine. I do love how thatshirt hugs your chest. It leaves naught to the imagination, and I want to-”

“Alright, lusty,” Aza interrupted, his cheeks slightly pink,“Stow that talk for later. We’re being romantichere.”

“Ah, sorry. Remind me to continue that thought after a fewmore wine glasses,” Aymeric said a mite impishly, “Do you have anything plannedfor after the meal?”

“Got a room we can crash in the Drowning Wench,” Aza said,then quickly added, “Don’t let the name fool you. The rooms are nice, and Iknow Baderon, the guy who owns it. He makes an amazing breakfast.”

An amazing breakfast… why does Aymeric feel like he’s heardthat before? Ah, wait. He knew where. “Is it that ‘La Noscean toast’ you made afew weeks ago?”

“Yes!” Aza perked up, delighted as always whenever Aymeric remembereda culinary dish of his, “I don’t make it as well as Baderon, though. So, if youthought mine was nice, wait ‘til you try his!”

Aymeric smiled, something warm and fuzzy brimming in hisheart at Aza’s clear, pure happiness, “Hmm, I’m looking forward to it.”

The meal proceeded from there. It was… nice. Aymeric triednew things, Aza happily explained the more obscure dishes in the menu, and theyspoke about trivial and mundane and simple things while steadily drinking theirway through three wine bottles. It wasn’t as strong as the paint stripperIshgardians normally passed off as alcohol, in fact it was weak as far as wineswent, but it was enough to make him a bit woozy and flushed while Aza leaptstraight into drowsy by the time their desserts came round.

“Aza, darling, your cheesecake isn’t a cushion.”

“Mmff…” Aza mumbled, barely keeping himself fromfaceplanting said cheesecake by propping his cheek on an upturned palm, hiseyes squinted half-shut, “It looks… soft enough too.”

Aymeric chuckled, reaching out to carefully tug theuntouched dessert out of faceplanting range, “Should I order us some coffee?”

“Mmm…”

Aza didn’t look much better after an emergency shot of espressowas delivered, but he did perk up enough to eat his cheesecake, luckily enough.Whilst it looked very appetising, Aymeric himself was too stuffed to try andput that away by himself, and it would be a shame to waste the whole thing onaccount of Aza’s drowsiness.

“You might… have to carry me to the inn,” Aza mumbled aroundhis fork, the silverware bouncing up and down from the movement of his lips. Itwas a shocking lack of table manners that would’ve scandalised any Ishgardiannoble. Aymeric simply found it adorable, “M’sleepy…”

“Quite a distance to carry you,” Aymeric hummed teasingly, “You’requite heavy, after all, I might end up dropping you.”

“You callin’ me fat?”

“Muscular, more like,” Aymeric muttered, “And incrediblydense.”

“Oi.”

Despite Aza’s fears, however, once the bill was paid andthey made their unsteady way out of the restaurant towards the Aftcastle, Azawas able to move under his own power… albeit he had to cling tight to Aymeric’sarm, pressed close to his side and letting out a low, rumbling purr thatsignalled his utter contentment.

Around them, Limsa Lominsa was well awake, despite the latehour, the distant clang of bells and horns, the murmur of crowds and sailorshitting the taverns or skulking back to their ships – and above, the starstwinkled bright, with the splash of the galaxy stark against the night sky.Aymeric soaked it all in, and all the tension he had brought with him to LimsaLominsa just… seeped out of him, relaxed in a way he rarely felt nowadays, whatwith… everything happening.

“Thank you,” he murmured softly to Aza, who merely hummedsleepily at him, “Tonight was lovely.”

“’nythin’ for you, han’some…” Aza mumbled, “M’happy youenjoyed.”

“Mm…”

With that, they continued on to the Drowning Wench, lookinglike any other couple stumbling back from a successful date at the Bismark,rather than the famed Warrior of Light and the Lord Commander of Ishgard. Foronce… they had a night of utter romantic normalcy, and it was nice.

Yet it remained to be seen, how many of these nice datesthey had left, with how things continued with Garlemald, and the Ascians…

#ffxiv #fanfic #warrior of light #aymeric de borel #original characters

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primortravel · 3 years

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New Post has been published on https://primortravel.com/spectacular-switzerland-a-visit-to-jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/

Spectacular Switzerland - A Visit to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe

Wondering what to expect when visiting Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe? Home to the highest train station in Europe, the largest glacier in the Alps, and incredible mountain views, Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe in Switzerland is an excursion in Switzerland that is not to be missed. It is truly one of the most beautiful places in the Swiss Alps. When the weather is clear, Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe is spectacular. We had a picture-perfect day visiting this famous European peak and we want to share exactly what you can look forward to when you visit this gorgeous viewpoint.

All About Jungfraujoch Top of Europe in Switzerland

Jungfraujoch is located in the region of Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps. With an elevation of 3454 meters (11,332 feet), you are going to feel the effects of altitude once you step off the highest cogwheel train in the world. So if you are sensitive to altitude, take your time as you explore, some people were feeling a wee bit dizzy at this elevation.

Here’s an interesting tidbit for you: Contrary to popular belief, when you visit Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, you are not actually going to the top of Jungfrau Mountain, you are going to a viewpoint that is known as a Joch. “Joch” is Swiss is translated to Yolk in English, meaning you are basically wedged in the low end of a saddle between two mountain peaks, Jungfrau and Mönch. Trust me, you would rather be in the Joch than at the top of the mountain, the views from here are astounding.

How to Get to Jungfraujoch

To get to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, you need to make your way to Grindelwald Terminal in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland. The best way to get around Switzerland is by train. you purchase a Swiss Travel Pass that will make it easy to get around anywhere in Switzerland by Train. To get to Jungfraujoch, you will need to make your way to Grindelwald Terminal by train.

A Swiss Travel Pass includes:

Unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat

Public transportation in more than 90 cities and towns

Including mountain excursions: Rigi, Schilthorn, Stanserhorn, and Stoos

Free admission to more than 500 museums throughout Switzerland

Get your Swiss Travel Pass Here.

Two free informative apps to help plan your Switzerland journey are: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland app and the Swiss Travel Guide app

You can purchase tickets from Grindelwald o4 Interlaken or to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe in advance at Jungfrau Railways. We highly recommend a Top of Europe Pass to allow flexibility for the weather. Passes start at 3 days for 239 CHF ($260 USD)

We have broken down the exact route we took from Grindelwald Station in Grindelwald Village all the way to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe below.

Train to Grindelwald Terminal

There are two ways to get to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe. Train only or via the new Eiger Express. The Eiger Express is a state-of-the-art gondola that shaves 42 minutes off the journey. We took the Eiger Express and it was awesome. Depending on where you are staying, you will hop on the Bernese Oberland Railway to Grindelwald Terminal. Once you reach Grindelwald Terminal, you walk through the brand new facility that feels more like an airport than a ski area. With moving sidewalks, boutiques, and restaurants, it has everything you need. But you aren’t going to spend too long here, because you are going to the top of Europe baby!

Bahn Eiger Express to Eiger Station (Eigergletscher)

The Eiger Express is the most modern tri-cable gondola in the world. This new gondola was built with little impact on the environment using only seven towers spanning 6483 meters. (miles) Plus, it is massive, the Eiger Express can hold up to 26 passengers per gondola moving a lot of people at a time. The windows heat up keeping the views clear in winter and it moves fast. The Eiger Express takes you from Grindelwald Terminal to the Eiger Glacier station in just 15 minutes.By taking the Eiger Express, you shave off 42 minutes of travel time and transfers making the journey an easy straight shot to Jungfraujoch with only one transfer to the highest railway in Europe.

Jungfraubahn – Jungfrau Railway

Once you reach Eiger Glacier Station (Eigergletscher) this when things get really interesting. From here, you transfer from the gondola to Jungfraubahn (The Jungfrau Railway) all the way up to Jungfraujoch. This historic cogwheel train is the highest cogwheel train in Europe. Not only that, it travels right through the Eiger and Mönch Mountains via a 7km long tunnel. It is steep and a very cool experience. There is also a little multimedia show to keep you occupied while you travel up for about 30 minutes.

Eismeer Sea of Ice

The Jungfrau Railway was completed in 1912 and is truly a feat of engineering. Imagine building a tunnel going through mountains at high altitudes more than 100 years ago! During the train journey, there is a stop in the middle of the mountain where you can get out of the train for views of the Aletsch Glacier. The Aletsch Glacier is an 80 square km ice sheet that is 22 km long and 1 km thick, making it the most powerful ice stream in the Alps. From here, you have a close-up view of Eismeer (“Sea of Ice”) of this mighty glacier. But the stop isn’t long because you are about to have your mind blown.

What to do at Jungfraujoch Top of Europe

Sphinx Terrace

Once you disembark the train, there is one more journey to take before you start exploring. It’s time to bard the ultra-fast elevator that takes you up another 117 meters to your destination, Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe. It is here that you are free to explore all the panoramic views from The Spinx Observation Terrace. Take your time here as you have extraordinary views of Jungfrau and Mönch peaks. You can also see the Eiger from here as well as the Aletsch Glacier.

Keep an eye of for the Alpine chough birds that soar through the air. These birds can only survive at altitudes of over 3000 meters. It is here that you are standing on the famous domed research station that you see in all the arial views of Jungfraujoch, Top fo Europe. Note, drones are not allowed to be flown at this UNESCO World Heritage Site so leave that view to the helicopter tour or the professionals that have a permit.

Alpine Sensation

The journey continues through Alpine Sensation, a multi-media display showcasing the building of the Jungfrau Railway. As you enter, a giant snow globe welcomes you with scenes from Switzerland. It is in Alpine Sensation that you’ll learn of Adolf Guyer-Zeller, the creator of the Jungfrau Railway who had a vision of taking tourists to the top of the mountain via train. He never lived to see its completion but his legacy lives on.

As you ride the moving sidewalk you pass photographs taking you on a journey from the early days of the building of the railway to the hardships that the construction crews faced. It also pays tribute to the 30 men who were killed building the railway.

Ice Palace

We had seen pictures of the Ice Palace located at Jungfrau, Top of Europe, and expected a cheesy exhibit for kids. Boy, were we wrong! This glacier tunnel was dug in the 1930s with good old-fashioned chisels and hammers. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that we were walking under a glacier. I kept asking our guide Doris, “Are we under the glacier right now?” The long tunnel of ice is extraordinary.

There are ice sculptures scattered throughout the 1000 square meters of tunnels that weave under the Aletsch Glacier. From a Charley Chaplin ice carving exhibit (Charley resided in Switzerland after being exiled from the United States) to mountain animals, the ice carvings are works of art.

Glacier Plateau

It’s time to head outside to walk in the snow. It may be summer below in Grindelwald, but it is year-round winter up here at the Top of Europe. This viewpoint offers the best views of the mountains of Germany and France and on the other side an unobstructed view of the Aletsch Glacier.

There’s also a photo opportunity to hold the Swiss Flag as you stand at the top of Europe. We liked to pretend we had just summited a mountain holding the flag, however, it was the easiest ascent we’ve ever had in our lives with gondolas, trains, and elevators taking us to this phenomenal viewpoint. It’s worth the shot though to say you’ve been there, done that.

Hike to Mönchsjoch Hut

We didnt’ have time to do a glacier hike, but we did get to see groups hiking to Mönchsjoch Hut. Imagine hiking at an altitude of 3650 meters through the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Swiss Alps as you take in the panoramic views of the mountains. You can stay overnight at the hut to enjoy the sunset from the Top of Europe. (Make sure to book in advance)

Jungfrau Panorama

We were lucky to have a bluebird day during our visit to Jungfraujoch, but sometimes people go all the way up and are shrouded in clouds. If you happen to be at the top on a bad day, there is a 360-degree panorama display of the surrounding mountains. We didn’t spend too long here because we had the real deal in front of our very own eyes, but it is a cool film taking you to crevasses, through the clouds and overhead views of the Jungfrau Region. But you don’t have to stay overnight, the hike is only about 45 minutes one way, so you can make it out and back in about two hours.

Shops and Restaurants

Going up to the Top of Europe is an expensive excursion, so you don’t want to hurry back down once you’ve reached the top. Jungfrau Region has made sure to offer plenty of opportunities to make the most of your time at the top. Make sure to stop into Lindt Chocolate Heaven for a sample of chocolate and a chance to take home some delicious treats.

Also, like everywhere in Switzerland, you can purchase a watch if you want. I often wonder who buys a watch at the top of a mountain, but our guide Doris told me that many people buy watches here. You can even get a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife if you want.

Restaurants

And no attraction would be complete without a stop for a bite to eat. There are three restaurants at Jungfraujoch Top of Europe. Restaurant Crystal and Restaurant Aletsch offer traditional Swiss Cuisine while Restaurant Bollywood caters to those looking for some Indian food. There is also a Speedy self-serve restaurant for some dining as well. If you want to have a drink, there is a coffee bar or a cocktail bar. At the Sphinx Bar, you can enjoy a glass of bubbly as you make a toast from the Top of Europe.

Hike the Eiger Trail

We didn’t spend too long at the restaurants or shops as we had a big afternoon ahead of us hiking the Eiger Trail. You don’t need to hike the Eiger Trail when visiting Jungfraujoch, but we highly recommend it. Rather than taking the gondola back down, take the Jungfrau Railway beck to Eigergletscher (Eiger Station) and start hiking to Apliglen. The Eiger Trail is an easy 2 hour hike that takes you along a rolling footpath that passes by the Eiger North Wall offering astounding views of the Grindelwald Valley.

Cows

If you have ever wondered where those famous photos of Swiss Cows on mountains are taken, it is right here. While hiking along the Eiger Trail we came across a herd of cattle that are set free during the summer months to graze on the mountainside. The grass of the mountains create the perfect food to create delicious Swiss cheese. Along the route you’ll see beautiful flowers, waterfalls and views of the surrounding mountains. Don’t miss doing this hike!

Hot Tips for Visiting Jungfraujoch Top of Europe

Jungfrau Top of Europe Passes can be purchased at their website here. If you have a Top of Europe Pass you will receive a 10% discount. Your pass includes unlimited trips to Jungfraujoch on the day of validity.

Check the weather before going to Jungfraujoch – The experience really depends on the weather and if you are spending that amount of money to go up to the Top of Europe, you are going to want to be able to see it.

Start as Early as Possible – Time tables change depending on the time of year, but we made sure to go up the first gondola from Grindelwald Terminal at 8:00 am. Plus, the weather is usually better in the morning in the Jungfrau region. (don’t hold me to this, but it has been our experience)

Reserve Your Tickets – Make sure to reserve your tickets in advance so that you get on the first gondola and then first train. Other people had to stand in line to wait for tickets to become available.

Dress for cold weather – We saw people going up to Jungfraujoch in shorts and we knew they were going to have a horrible experience. It is cold up there. We had an outer wind layer and a warm fleece layer along with a winter hat and gloves that we could put on when we reached the top. It made for a very comfortable experience. Even the ice cave is cold, so you will want to be warm to truly enjoy it.

Hire a Local Guide – We had a guide with us and it was so helpful. We didn’t have to think about a thing as she led us through each step of the Jungfraujoch Top of Europe experience. Plus, she gave us insightful information and a guided history of the region. It truly was a special experience and one of our favorite days in Switzerland ever. (we’ve been to Switzerland three times!)

Where to Stay when visiting Jungfraujoch Top of Europe

We stayed at the Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof in Grindelwald. It was a fantastic location just one stop from Grindelwald Terminal. It’s only about a 3-minute walk to Grindelwald Station and the train from Grindelwald Station to Terminal is only three minutes. Within 6 minutes we were at the gondola getting ready to make our way up the mountain. This historic hotel has a lovely outdoor patio for dining, a fantastic buffet breakfast, and fabulous views of Grindelwald First.

So, Is Jungfarujoch worth it?

Yes, Definitely! We didn’t know what to expect when going up to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, but it exceeded our expectations. It was one of the most beautiful scenes we have ever laid eyes on. By going early in the morning, we stayed ahead of the crowds and had spectacular views. There is so much to do up at Jungfraujoch, we think it is definitely worth the price.

By riding the Cogwheel trains, taking the gondola, going through the Ice Palace, and having the views from the Sphinx Viewing Platform and Glacier Plateau, Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe is definitely worth every penny. You don’t often get an experience like this without having to trek for hours and our visit to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe is an experience we will cherish for years to come.

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yahooin-travel-inspirations · 6 years

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10 winter adventures to put on your bucket list

While the northern hemisphere makes its way to summer, winter adventures are about to get even cooler. Tourism to once-remote destinations is booming — Antarctica saw 38,478 visitors during the 2015-2016 season, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and the total number of foreign overnight visitors to Iceland notched around 1.8 million in 2016. Boutique-style adventures that combine luxury with daredevil sports are also gaining traction among millennials.

For some, that means catching a speedy two-hour flight from Punta Arenas, in Chilean Patagonia, to King George Island to explore the glassy landscape on snowshoe. For others, it means swimming the Blue Lagoon, set in Iceland’s south west, away from the bustling crowds. Whether you crave a midnight dip, or powder skiing by water, the adventures gathered here are sure to get your pulse racing.

We’ve rounded up everything from private yacht charters that attempt the Northwest Passage — a 900-mile “shortcut” above North America that eluded seafarers for centuries — to the rare opportunity to explore a dormant volcano. Like your adventure glammed up? The Blue Lagoon’s first luxury hotel has you covered, with Lava Cove, a subterranean spa nestled deep in volcanic rock. Here are 10 chilly weather adventures you’ll want to put on your bucket list now.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Sea Kayaking in Antarctica

“Antarctic tourism” may sound like an oxymoron, but that’s exactly what ANTARCTICA XXI offers: over 20 air-cruise departures each season that avoid the historically stormy Drake Passage. For an extra $895 per person, you can tack on sea kayaking to your excursion, which is “really peaceful,” says Brooke Garnett, the founder of MAYAMAYA travel agency in New York. “You’re off in the icebergs with penguins swimming by.”

Source: Travel+Leisure

Sailing the Northwest Passage

Attempting the Northwest Passage is not for the faint of heart. But if you fancy yourself a modern-day Sir Humphrey Gilbert, whose treatise on the passage inspired many other explorers, EYOS Expeditions, which specializes in super-yacht expeditions, offers private yacht charters. Time on the water is spent tracking polar bears and voyaging to rarely seen Inuit communities. On helicopter, you’ll get jaw-dropping views of the towering mountains below.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Exploring the Hjørenfjord

Tucked away in the ragged Sunnmøre Alps is the 21-mile-long Hjørenfjord, one of the longest fjords in Norway and a bit of a national secret. Garnett recommends booking a private boat tour through 62° Nord to see the glaciers and villages like Øye, where Hotel Union Øye, built in 1891, features 27 ravishing guest rooms and countless sites to explore — including the ancient Norangsdalen valley and the famously steep Slogen mountain.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Sailing Around Ålesund

62° Nord offers sailboat tours around Ålesund, a sea port known for its colorful Art Nouveau district, built after a fire around the turn of the century. Here you’ll find a higher level of accommodation and service than in touristy Bergen, notes Garnett, with clearer skies and spectacular views of the mountains and fjords. On land, fuel up on a bowl of fish soup, then wander downtown — it’s incredibly walkable — and pop into the one of the many record shops.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Kayaking at Tutka Bay Lodge

Set on the tip of the Kenai Peninsula, across Kachemak Bay from Homer, chef Kirsten Dixon and her husband Carl offer meaningful ways to connect with the land — like digging for steam clams and picking mussels — as well as a boathouse with kayaks. “You get that big, wide-open spaces feeling,” says Garnett, speaking of the breathtaking scenery. Often, she’ll combine visits with stays at the couple’s other remote property, Winterlake Lodge, on the Iditarod Trail.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Heli-skiing in Iceland

Deplar Farm, a converted sheep farm in the Fljót Valley on the Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland, offers snowy, unspoiled runs for serious skiers. “The slopes are right on the coast,” says MAYAMAYA partner Matthew LaPolice, so you’ll be zig-zagging against the deep-blue of the North Atlantic Ocean. Legs feeling tired? Spend a day in the spa, bouncing from Deplar’s geothermal-heated indoor/outdoor pool (with a swim-up bar) to the outdoor Viking sauna and i-sopod flotation tanks.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Soaking in the Blue Lagoon

The five-star Retreat, which opened in April, offers private access to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spring in the Reykjanes Peninsula. “It’s easy to get to, but quite touristy,” warns LaPolice, but don’t let that deter you from the stunning views of the landscape — especially from the lounge — or an in-water massage.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Snowmobiling in Jackson Hole

Minutes from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Tram in Teton Village, Caldera House offers iconic attractions — like Chef Paulie O’Connor’s Old Yellowstone Garage — as well as an alpine club with a private club lounge, spa and fitness studio. (Members also get access to Snake River Sporting Club.) Book one of the stylish two- or four-bedroom suites, then spend a day zooming around the backcountry.

Source: Travel+Leisure

Snowboarding in Gstaad

The village in southwestern Switzerland is a mecca for skiers, says Garnett: “The Alps are just stunning, and having that backdrop on a nice bluebird day is special.” Gstaad Palace boasts 100 well-appointed guest rooms and no shortage of winter activities — from ice skating by the promenade to snowboarding in the Bernese Oberland. For the truly adventurous, there is heliskiing, which entails a helicopter dropping you off in no man’s land.

Source: Travel+Leisure

#1197772589 #Travel Ideas #adventure #winter #wanderlust #travel + leisure #glam

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reidfoley80-blog · 5 years

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A Secret Weapon For boat trip kyrenia

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elsaeckhardt-blog · 7 years

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15 februar

Hello again!!!

It’s been a while since I’ve recapped on events that have happened over these past couple weeks, so I thought I’d do a timeline/bullet style entry to highlight the experiences I’ve had since February 2nd(ish) :)

feb. 3 (fri.): I got ice cream from an ice cream truck!!! I was sitting at dinner with my family and we heard a jingle outside, which I didn’t think much of it, but as soon as my host dad said “There goes the ice cream truck” I freaked out. We only have ice cream trucks in the summer in suburban areas in the U.S., so I felt like I was reliving my childhood in Connecticut for a split second. My host sister told me the truck would come back on our street, so we hurried outside to flag it down. I was so, so giddy, and am getting excited as I type just thinking about it😄🍦We bought a couple of boxes of “fotball is” and had them for dessert :))

feb. 4 (sat.): I went on an AMAZING hike with my second host dad, Gert, and his buddy. The hike lasted about 4 1/2 hours in its entirety, and every minute of it was so flott (great)!! We hiked in a place called in Langevåg, about ten minutes from home. I think it was about 10 km roundabout and the mountain was 800 meters high. The hike itself was called Vardane on Suja Mountain. As many of you probably know I love hiking and do it often in Vermont, but this experience made me appreciate the activity (dare I say lifestyle) so much more. To break it down, we began the fjelltur (“mountain trip”/hike) walking up a dirt path after parking on the side of the road, much like in the U.S. The path was pretty wide, approximately 3 meters, and super worn down due to frequent use. There were trees overhead and you could see the surrounding mountains through gaps in the trees every so often. We passed many, many people in that first part of the trip. Although people in Norway are very quiet on the bus, in school etc., it’s like a different culture on the mountain. Everyone says hello and smiles to each other. Although it was about 50 degrees F that day it was considered strange to wear shorts, so a few people chuckled and asked me if I was cold after their hello (I wasn’t) :) Towards the top we made friends with a couple who were curious about my exchange; we chatted with them consistently for an hour or so while nearing the summit. I love this social aspect of hiking in Norway so much- it creates such a special, sacred environment for the mountains. After the first part of the hike on the path we came to a spot with few cabins and benches that you can take a break on if you want. It also serves as a destination if you don’t want to hike the rest, because it is where the treeline ends and you get a 360 degree view of mountains. This spot was also where you could start to see the summit. I felt an intense urge to get to the summit, kind of like it was a challenge. Being able to see glorious mountains all around you and knowing that the top of one is feasible to get to is truly invigorating. The path becomes more steep and difficult to hike, which was undoubtedly a factor in the experience. The two people I was hiking with (Gert and his friend) were enjoying the placidness of the setting a bit more than I was, and they took a few breaks for coffee/snacks (it was super funny to me that people eat more unhealthy food like coke and oreos on hikes), which I wasn’t very used to. I kind of pushed ahead and starting hiking up at a quicker pace, waiting every now and then to see if they were following (don’t worry, they did :)). The higher I climbed the more snowy and chilly it got, which was exciting. After another hour of walking up this path I reached the peak! Our friends from earlier were there as well as a few other hikers, taking in the insane view. It was so marvelous. Soon Gert and his friend reached the top, and we had some more food, took some photos and relaxed. It was utterly stunning; I’d never seen mountains so amazing in that capacity, and I’m so lucky I got to! Going down was harder than coming up and I did wipe out a couple times, but we were eventually back on the dirt path. I decided to run it, so I listened to music and got to the bottom pretty quickly. There weren’t too many people heading down because it was starting to get dark (we hiked from 12pm-4:30pm). I got to the bottom and the car was locked, so I sat on a little hill above the parking lot and meditated. Gert and his friend got down and we headed home. It was such an incredible experience, and I’m so stoked to hike more!!

feb. 5 (sun.): My host parents took me on a mini trip a little outside of Ålesund and showed me some cool spots :) I’ll have to ask my parents for the names of the places, but we went to an old farm and walked around (it wasn’t really a tourist destination, just a pretty piece of property that you can poke around) and walked along the sea on a boardwalk in another spot. It was really fun to be in their company and explore tucked away parts of Norway that I wouldn’t have the privilege of seeing if I was a tourist. Since it was Sunday everything was kind of sleepy and calm which made it a really enjoyable experience.

feb. 6 (mon.): After a fun weekend I headed back to school to a new class. Like I mentioned earlier, my normal class was in Italy for the past week, so I got to follow the schedule of another class in my grade. I was nervous, but I had a few friends in the class before I joined. Like many experiences I’ve had here, my nervousness for class/introducing myself as the American to a whole new group of people was excessive and eradicated almost immediately after I joined the class. I made some friends (bra jobbe elsa!! 👏🏼 👏🏼) and became close with some people from the class over the course of the week- it’s always nice to have a few more familiar faces in the hallway :)) While Italy looked really fun, it was healthy/rewarding to go a little further out of my comfort zone for the week.

feb. 7 (tues.): On Tuesday I had the opportunity to go alpine skiing for a SECOND time !! A class from the grade above me goes on an annual ski trip to Bjorli Mountain for the day. The person in charge (also my geography teacher) knew I was an avid skier and invited me to join them. At first I was hesitant to go because I had just met my new class and wanted to get to know them better, I didn’t know anyone at all on the trip and I didn’t have all of my gear. However, I was encouraged by many to go, and I decided to join :) I rounded up all needed gear somehow (well with the help of my awesome parents, that’s probs how) and went on the trip. Once we got to the lodge I put my stuff down with a few girls at a table and introduced myself. They were super great company to ski with. It was the perfect day to go skiing- bluebird sky, perfectly firm snow, chilly but sunny, bountiful amounts of corduroy and absolutely empty except for our group. I can’t express in words how utopian the conditions were. The scenery was unreal and the trails were ideal (buy my mixtape on iTunes). I also had totally functioning gear, and while I missed my sharp race edges, corduroy is corduroy (arc city). I’m so so thankful I got to go on this trip- it was such an amazing day for skiing & of course wonderful to meet some more neat people 🙃 🙃

feb. 8 (wed.): A little after middag (dinner) I made American pancakes with my mom ! Apparently the fluffiness of American pancakes baffle Europeans, so she was very curious to try them out. We made them with blueberries, raspberries and chocolate and hot dang they were good!! I hadn’t had pancakes/Vermont syrup in a while, so it was veldig fint å spiser dem med min norsk Mamma! (very good to eat them with my Norwegian Mamma!) Unfortunately we didn’t save any for Helge or Frida, so we will have to make more soon ;))

feb. 9 (thurs.): After fotboll training on Thursday night Frida picked me up and we went to Fjellstua with her (/our 😊) friend Martine. Fjellstua is an outlook in Ålesund City where you can see the whole city, and it’s soo breathtaking. Although Frida stole my Stan Smiths (type of tennis shoe) and I was stuck with my soccer cleats, it was fun to take photos of the beautiful city & share some laughs ❤️ ❤️

feb. 10-12 (fri.-sun.): On Friday night Frida and I went with some family to their hytta (mountain home/cabin) for the weekend to ski some more!! It was a total experience and very, very fun, but I’m going to dedicate another post to it within these next few days :) ❄️

feb. 14 (tues.): Yesterday was Valentine’s Day!! It’s not really celebrated here, but a couple friends and I enjoyed it anyway ❣️

feb. 15 (wed.): And today is the most exciting day of all- HØNEMAMA’S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 Gratulerer med dagen bestevennn ! 😚 😚 🎈 🎂 Takk for alt du gjør for meg :))

Thanks for tuning in to this very overdue update!! Vi snakkes! (TTYL!)

Elsa :)

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blissful-pursuit · 6 years

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Hulaween 2018

I anxiously wait all year long for this festival. This festival is what started my love of Suwannee Music Park in 2015. I was mesmerized with the amount of love and happiness that is felt here, it is pure magic for the soul.

This year I decided on a whim to go to the pre pre party Wednesday night. Best idea ever because so many people had this idea in mind. I waited around 30 minutes to get into the venue before setting up camp and my RV spot in Music Hall. The music for this night was held in the little music hall stage that I got to visit for the first time 2 weeks prior at Roots Revival. This is an intimate stage for music and I highly recommend checking it out if you ever get the chance. I made it just in time to see Catfish Alliance who blew me away with their insane energy on stage. Despite being local to me, this was my first time seeing this band.

The rest of the night I was listening to music in the little garden outside of the music hall. A perfect place to make new friends and enjoy great music. I ventured off into the festival grounds to try to get a sneak peek of what was to come within the next few days. Spirit Lake was blocked off but I was still able to see lights and installations going up. I was in complete awe of how many people were already here on Wednesday. So many beautiful souls waiting for a weekend long of good music. I could feel the excitement as I walked back to camp.

What’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done? Deciding to sleep in my car during a festival. This was my reality when I decided to come a day early before my RV. Nevertheless I was pumped and slept like a baby.

Waking up with severe back pain from sleeping in a passenger seat, I went on a search for some comfort breakfast food and coffee. Pro tip for future Suwannee attendees, the SOS cafe has a wonderful breakfast buffet every morning. Nothing better than eggs and bacon to jump start your day.

My day of music started at the Patch Stage with Funk You. Perfect funky vibes to enjoy in the afternoon, the crowd was getting down to the music and it was all smiles. After a quick break to wait for the RV we raced over to see Papadosio at the Amph stage and they finally played “We Are Water” for me, a song I have been chasing since discovering this band.

Tribe and JRAD killed their Thursday sets. Tribe’s Axe the Cables set was a new experience for me and I loved every second of it. Their second set for the day was my favorite set for Thursday though. Tribe opened with my pick “Click Clang Echo” which was so magical to see live and closed the set with “World Go Round”.

A nice sleep in my cozy RV was exactly what I needed and I was now ready for the official first day of Hula. Cheese is the reason for the season and I was PUMPED. Before Cheese I saw some great performances from The Woods Brothers, Break Science, and Trampled by Turtles. Break science live band was composed of members from lettuce and they threw down fantastic remixes, including a remix of their song “Phyllis”.

I left Trampled by Turtles early to get a prime spot for Cheese’s first set. I had been anticipating this performance for months, trying to guess what song they would open the festival with. As soon as Texas started to play I felt giddy. This is another song that I’ve been chasing and I felt so lucky to be able to hear this in my favorite place. Cheese also threw down some new songs this day including “Manga” a song written by their member Jason Haan.

Aside from my love for jam, I also dabble a little in electronic music. I was torn between seeing Rezz, a new artist I just discovered, and another set of Tribe. I waited out for Rezz and decided two minutes in to run over to Tribe. Best. Decision. Ever. I ran into the Patch stage just in time to catch “Scheme” and they also threw down “When The Dust Settles”. This was an absolute dream combination for me.

What’s the best thing about day 2 of Hula? THREE SETS OF CHEESE. I started off my Saturday at the Meadow to see Lettuce perform for the first time ever on this stage. They delivered funky sweet jams to get my day started. I then rushed back to camp to get myself ready for the rest of the stacked day. Cheese started at 3 and I made sure to get a spot up front to see them deliver their first performance. Some of my favorites from this set were “Sweet Spot” and “Colorado Bluebird Sky”.

The second set of cheese on Saturday was by far the best of the weekend. After years of not being played, “Jellyfish” finally got it’s Hulaween debut. The crowd went absolutely wild and cheese did a fantastic job on changing this song up for this performance.

Cheese’s theme set is by far the most highly anticipated of the weekend. They threw two themes together for this performance. The majority of it was focused on female empowerment. They had powerhouse singers like Ann Wilson and Rhonda Thomas performing powerful songs about empowerment. If you left the set after these ladies were done, you missed a hell of an encore. Cheese took the theme to the next level by playing themes from our favorite space themed movies and shows. I was hoping that they’d cover “Cantina Band” from Star Wars and I got my wish. They also absolutely killed Darth Vader’s theme.

I caught the last 30 minutes of Tipper’s set that night and I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. It was the most high energy and best set that I’ve seen from Tipper. The amphitheater was packed like sardines and the crowd was all vibing together like family. Definitely can’t wait to hit up his Full Moon event next spring.

Sunday is a day for Bluegrass. This day I finally got to see Yonder Mountain String Band for the first time and I was swept away with their beautiful sounds that echoed through the meadow. I followed up with Cheese’s bluegrass set which was a close second best set for the weekend. Mouna Bow> High on a Mountain Top was a magical transition that had me dancing like a fool in the meadow. Cheese closed out Sunday and my weekend with another fantastic performance. “Way Back Home”> “Beautiful” brought me to an emotional state realizing how much I truly love this and and it’s fans. Nothing but love was felt in this crowd at that moment. Nicholas Cassarino was brought on and did a fabulous job performing “Superstition” and “This Must Be The Place”. This set was an incredible end to my weekend.

I caught a little bit of The Revivalists and wandered through Spirit Lake for a bit before making my way back home from the weekend. This was truly a magical weekend that I feel so blessed to have been able to experience. Suwanee is my second home and I am so thankful for all of the artists and crew for putting together a magnificent festival every year that I can escape to. I can’t wait to see what other experiences are in store for my blissful pursuit in life. Till next time Suwannee~

xoxo

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every2piness-blog · 7 years

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I am officially a down skirt convert. Years were spent scoffing at down skirts on clearance racks. I wondering who cared about being feminine when crushing it in the backcountry. Surely down skirts were for people at ski resorts that spent most of their time in the bar. What a fool I was. Let me share with you the journey I found myself on this winter, and perhaps, you will become a convert as well.

The Ignorance

During one of our snowshoe trips this year, I found myself standing next to a snowy lake. The wind whipped around my legs, instantly chilling my sweat soaked, spandex-clad tuchus. Knowing my snow pants would take too long to assemble, I grabbed my down jacket and wrapped it around my butt. I let the hood flop on the back and tied the arms into a lumpy belt. As I felt sweet warmth flood my lower body, and hypothermia panic ease into the distance, I realized I had fashioned myself a down skirt. The following weekend, I picked up the Marmot Pip insulated skirt at a REI garage sale and tested it at Source Lake a week later. Spoiler-alert: it was awesome.

Cold is a constant battle for me when snowshoeing. My core body temperature hovers around 96.5 F, which is a scant 1.5 degrees from the first stages of hypothermia. Snowshoeing is an active sport requiring minimal layers while climbing, lest you sweat and chill as soon as you stop moving. It took me years to find a layering system with minimal sweating on the ascent, but comfort at the peak. As a result, I am not an ultralight snowshoer, in fact, I am much more in the ultraheavy maximalist range. If you can get away with fewer layers and still have fun in the mountains, I applaud you! If you are sensitive to cold and love to flirt with hypothermia, I offer the down skirt as a solution.

The first year that we started snowshoeing regularly, my poor snowshoeing partners had to endure my audible sobbing on the descent. Once my body reaches a certain level of cold, crying is inevitable, even when I am having fun. This does not make for a joyful outing for my companions. No one wants to hike behind the person that is cry-gasping, “I promise I am ok, I just need to cry for 20 minutes”. It would be one thing if this drama was occurring on the top of K2 after a magnificent alpine feat. It is another thing entirely to subject friends to this drama when it is a bluebird day in the Cascade mountains 4 miles away from Steven’s Pass. Finding a layering system that avoids the chill was a top priority. Now when I cry in the mountains, it is not from cold!

My bottom layer when snowshoeing is CW-X running tights, which wick away sweat, and keep my legs the perfect temperature when climbing. As soon as I stop moving in the snow, I need to quickly layer up and that is where the skirt comes in so handy. With my insulated pants, I would need to align the pants perfectly, then fully zip each side. The zippers were small enough that I needed to remove my gloves and I usually struggled for about 5 minutes before I was fully dressed. With the down skirt, I am able to wear the running tights as a baselayer, and the skirt has a single, easy-to-thread zipper.

The Bliss

The down skirt came with me on every snowshoeing trip this year. It was perfect to quickly throw on at the top of the route. It traps the heat quickly and adds an extra layer of insulation if I decide to sit on the snow. Often, I kept the skirt on as we descended, as it is usually cooler going downhill. I purchased the Marmot Pip model (based entirely on what was at a REI garage sale for cheap…). At 8.3 oz it is lighter than my insulated pants, and the 700 fill power is very cozy. I have found is less compressible than other down items in my gear closet, but fits comfortably in my pack. This model is a little longer than others, and the shorter skirts are often lighter.

Now that is early season backpacking, I still find myself reaching for my down skirt. The overnight temperature has been about 32 F, and the down skirt has been cozy to wear around camp. I wear it to sleep at night inside my sleeping bag and it provides insulation on my hips, which are often cold.

I have also worn it to dinner and bars on the way home from snowshoeing. My running tights are, well, tight and in family restaurants, it is nice to throw a little something on top of my athletic gear. I take comfort in knowing that I brought the down skirt up a mountain before it came into the lodge.

The Unfortunate Fashion Truth

I know, I look insufferable.

It must be addressed that I look slightly ridiculous. I feel like a badass in running tights on a snowy trail. I can see my muscles strain through the compression gear as I propel myself up a steep bank. With my spandex layers, I am working hard to succeed in a difficult landscape and persevering to accomplish my goals. I am the ultimate weekend snow warrior.

Wow, what a badass.

A strong woman in pants! I don’t need a useless feminine skirt in the wilderness!

When I am wearing the down skirt, I feel like a gnome that has gone for a jaunt in the garden. I want to explain to everyone I see that even though I am wearing a skirt, I am still a mountaineer. I didn’t have one too many hot chocolates in the lodge and accidentally wander onto a snowfield, or throw money at REI until they gave me every ridiculous piece of their gear on the shelves (ok the last one might be true…).

The truth is, there are many issues with the glorification of masculinity and extreme fitness apparel in outdoor recreation. Wearing a down skirt does not make me weak, inadequate, or suggest that I do not belong in the mountains. It simply makes me warm. Learning to crush the section of my head that worries about appearances in the backcountry is a constant battle, but a worthy one, I think.

Garden gnome somehow found herself at an alpine lake.

Of course, the history of badass women mountaineering in skirts completely abolishes that idea that wearing feminine clothes makes one less worthy of outdoor achievement. A great number of accomplished mountaineers in Washington regularly climbed alpine routes in skirts or skirt-like pantaloons. Perusing the University of Washington’s Mountaineers photograph collection, I saw women from the early 1900’s on difficult expeditions on Mount Rainier and Olympic mountains. These women often wore clothing that weighed 20 pounds, with only an alpenstock for aid.

Of course, women wore skirts to conform to Victorian standards of propriety, rather than a convenient method of staying warm. Nonetheless, early female mountaineers reached incredible heights. The women whose pictures I saw looked like they belonged in the mountains, faces exuberant, without embarrassment or imposter syndrome. With their feats as inspiration, I wear my down skirt with nothing but pride.

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Mountaineers on the summit of Mt. Seattle, 1913

Mountaineers near Mt. Index,

Images courtesy of University of Washington Mountaineers photograph collection.

Convinced? Here are a few models to get you started.

Smartwool Corbet 120 | Synthetic |$120.00 | synthetic allows for insulation even when wet, merino-lined front panel, 2-way zipper.

SKHOOP Mini Down Skirt | 600 fill down | $149.00 | windproof, water-resistant, 2-way zipper on the right side and venting zipper on the left side, plus 2 zipped pockets. Available year-round and available in longer length.

Dynafit TLT Primaloft Insulated Skirt | Synthetic Primaloft | $120.00 | Stretchy side panels, full-length zip, and side partial zip.

Marmot Banff | 700 fill down | $120.00 | Similar to the Pip model, the Banff model is longer with slightly larger baffles and an extra hand pocket.

My Down Skirt is Surprisingly Awesome I am officially a down skirt convert. Years were spent scoffing at down skirts on clearance racks.

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ulyssessklein · 7 years

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Get to know Nashville when you attend the DIY Musician Conference

Welcome to Music City: come early and stay late!

You’ll have plenty to do at CD Baby’s DIY Musician Conference this year: seminars, workshops, one-on-one mentoring, jam rooms, showcases, open mics, and so much more.

But you’re also going to be in the heart of Music City in the summertime. You should totally take some time to experience what makes Nashville so vibrant and unique. It’s a town that — according to the the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp — “sizzles with American music, Southern hospitality, unbelievable cuisine,” and a pretty much boundless choice of activities.

First, get your tickets to the DIY Musician Conference, reserve your hotel, and get ready for a music-filled weekend (August 25-27) that will take your career to the next level. Then, if you have time on either side of the conference to explore, here’s some ideas from the Nashville tourism folks on how to spend it…

The top 10 things you can only do in Nashville:

1. Hit the Hall

Kick off your Nashville experience with a day at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The world’s largest popular music museum offers every-changing exhibits featuring the legends of country music past and today’s hottest stars.

Grab a bite to eat inside the museum at 2/22 Eatery, a full-service restaurant serving Southern favorites, or at Bajo Sexto, an authentic Mexican taqueria.

Then take some time to explore the museum’s two retail stores offering locally-made gifts, clothing, and a comprehensive selection of books and music.

2. Ride the Row

Take a tour of Music Row and visit historic RCA Studio B, the famous recording studio where Elvis recorded over 200 songs. Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, Eddy Arnold, and many more recorded classic hits here.

Not surprisingly, the heartbeat of Music City is driven by music — from country to classical. Tours of RCA Studio B depart daily from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

3. Visit the Home of the Greek Gods

In Nashville’s Centennial Park, you’ll find the world’s only full-scale reproduction of the ancient Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The Parthenon houses an art gallery and museum as well as Alan LeQuire’s Athena Parthenos. Standing at almost 42 feet in height, Athena is the tallest indoor sculpture in the Western world.

Just a mile from the Parthenon is the LeQuire Gallery, where you can visit Alan in his studio and witness one of the nation’s premiere sculptors.

4. Take in a Songwriters-in-the-Round Show

One of the most unique ways to hear music in Nashville is at a songwriters show. Typically called a “writers night,” songwriters are put somewhere they are not used to being — in the spotlight. Several singer-songwriters will play ‘in-the-round’ as they sit on stage accompanied only by a microphone, a guitar, and their immense talent.

These shows can be found in small, intimate clubs all over town, including the famous Bluebird Cafe in Green Hills and downtown’s The Listening Room Cafe.

5. Outdoor Concerts

Music steps outside in the summer. Events like Musicians Corner at Centennial Park, Full Moon Pickin’ Parties at Percy Warner Park Equestrian Center, Bluebird on the Mountain, Music in the Vines at Arrington Vineyard, and Live on the Green at public Square Park bring the high notes to the great outdoors. Head to Riverfront Park for a concert at the Ascend Amphitheater and take in the incredible views of downtown and the Cumberland River.

6. Nashville’s Newest Sounds

Honoring musicians from stars to studio players that represent all genres of music, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is housed in the Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

From Hank Williams, Sr. to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Motown to Southern Rock — there is truly something of interest to everyone. Pay homage to the Man in Black at the Johnny Cash Museum located on 3rd Avenue. Featuring the most comprehensive collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world, this is THE Cash venue to visit for all ages.

Then stroll up to the George Jones Museum on 2nd Avenue, which offers visitors a never-before-seen look into the life and career of the musical icon.

7. Take a Timeline Journey

The Ryman Auditorium, also called the “Mother Church of Country Music,” has had artists as diverse as Elvis Costello and Patsy Cline perform on its legendary stage since 1892. You can take a backstage tour and record your own song in the Ryman studio.

The stars of the Grand Ole Opry take the stage every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday night (at the Ryman Auditorium November-January; at the Grand Ole Opry House February-October) with guest appearances by the biggest names in music.

With 90 years of history, the Opry is the world’s longest-running broadcast and shows no signs of slowing down.

8. Salute

Three U.S. Presidents call Tennessee home: Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson. You can revisit the past at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, Home of the People’s President. Polk is buried on the grounds of the historic State Capitol building in downtown Nashville.

9. Visit Honky Tonk Highway

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Legends Corner, The Second Fiddle, The Stage, Layla’s Bluegrass Inn, and Robert’s Western World are all experts at serving up cool longnecks and hot country music. You never know who you’ll see in these Lower Broadway clubs in the shadow of the Ryman. Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Gretchen Wilson, Dierks Bentley, and other stars began their careers on Lower Broadway.

10. Special Events

Summer in Nashville is a season full of festivals, sports, food, and, of course, live music. Check the summer calendars!

For a detailed map of downtown Nashville, and all the hot spots to hit, go HERE.

To get your tickets to the DIY Musician Conference, happening this August 25-27, go HERE.

The post Get to know Nashville when you attend the DIY Musician Conference appeared first on DIY Musician Blog.

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