#you may explore its amazing surroundings and stroll along its white sand beaches. While waiting for our car to Maribago | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

poems-and-pillows-and-puppies · 4 years

Text

Song of the Sea: Chapter 1- Bow

Hello there. I decided to make a fanfiction based off of @thenerdyalchemist‘s amazing pirate!AU! Here’s the link to the Ao3 page- https://archiveofourown.org/works/22967113

Chapter 1- Bow

Walking along the beach of Alorminia, Ethari felt the wind blow its sea-salty breath onto his already salt-encrusted clothes. Rayla giggled, letting the waves’ spray pelt her face. The colors of the pier rushed in, a whorl of blues and browns and yellows on the winding beaches. The sound of children laughing echoed in Ethari’s ears. Children rolled in the sand, making miniature dust-storms in their wake, as parents, disapproving and encouraging alike, followed in tow. The sand felt like satin under their callused, well-worn feet. Rayla smiled at the other children’s antics, but made no move to follow. Ethari wondered when their little girl went from exploring everything and escaping his and Runaan’s grasps to mellowly holding onto their hands as they went exploring through new towns and cities beside the sea. As he stood there, lost in memories of long, long ago, Rayla turned her eyes toward him and tugged on his shirt. He turned his gaze to her, and she beamed at her adoptive father with the warmth of a sunbeam on a cloudy day. Ethari returned the favor, giddy from the feeling of stable land- at least, as stable as sand can be- underneath his heels. He could see Runaan making his way towards one of the sandside stores, already haggling for a better price on a pair of bandanas. At the moment, Runaan looked deep in thought, his brow furrowed like the loose plank he had fixed at sea the night before. Sweat glistened on his brow, reflecting off the blue henna-like tattoos that defined his entire identity, his silvery-white hair untied and flowing off his shoulders like the many waterfalls he and Ethari have passed by under the light of the moon. Ethari’s gaze moved down towards his waist and noticed that Runaan’s purse had already shrunk, albeit not by much, the leather rope that bound the pocket was a little slack and Ethari had a slight pang of anxiety overtake him. ‘What if he had been pickpocketed?’ Ethari shook his head slightly, his slightly spiked hair swaying in time with his head movement. ‘No,’ he said to himself, ‘the king of the pirates wouldn’t possibly allow himself to be pickpocketed.’ He strolled toward his husband, the sand shifting beneath his feet to accommodate his weight. Runaan snapped out of his trance and turned slightly to look at his first mate. “Runaan?”

“Ethari.”

“What are you haggling for?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Despite his cold and harsh words, Ethari could sense his affectionate tone. ‘What a grouch I married. Can’t even show his love. Well, two can play at that game.’

“Dear, we don’t need to distract this merchant anymore. We can get a cheaper bandana at the other store.”

He kissed his husband’s forehead, ignoring the faint saltiness of his sweat, for the sake of the performance. The recipient looked at him with confusion in his eyes but caught on in a split second. He faked acquiescence. His blush from the kiss, however, was genuine. They acted like they were moving on. The merchant spluttered.

“W-wait! I can give it to you for 10 coppers! 10!”

Runaan stopped in his tracks. Ethari, sensing that this was an exponentially better deal than before, based on his spouse’s actions, waited for his husband to pay for the clothing. Rayla bounced up and down on her heels, violet eyes wide and sparkling, taking in the hustle and bustle of the town. Now that he was closer, Ethari took a good look at the merchant. The merchant was well-rounded, as if he had eaten a few steaks too many for his body to have handled it nicely. His voice, though rough-sounding at first listen, was oily and sent uncomfortable shivers down his spine. The next time the two had eye contact, Ethari gave a half-lidded glare at the shopkeeper, making the man’s wattle tremble. After Runaan had finished his purchase, the group plodded on with the nearest produce shop in mind. As the ground turned from sand to hard-packed mud to cobblestone and the open airs of the beach turned to crowded wooden stalls and people from all sides, the two pirates argued over what to buy for the ship with playful tones, with Rayla adding her own two cents every once in a while.

“...so there, Runii! Fruits are a must!”

“They’re expensive, you big buffoon.”

“Hey! I’m only a little bit taller than you!”

Rayla chipped in, “You guys are both the same height to me! You two are so silly!”

The group laughed, each in their own ways. Runaan looked forwards. “We’ve reached the produce stalls. Why don’t you two go look for some treats or something? I heard Alorminia has the best sugared apples.” Ethari and Rayla bobbed their heads up and down like birds, making Runaan chuckle. He made a shooing motion. “Go on, you two.” The two scuttled off, disappearing into the crowd.

Ethari and Rayla strolled through the marketplace, searching for the sweet stands. People who noticed their markings kept a wide berth around them, much to their degree of comfort and space. Rayla frowned at the looks of fear on some of the people’s faces. “Why are some of them scared of us, Papa?” Her wobbly voice caught him off guard and he crouched to her eye level. “My little Rayla, you mustn’t be afraid of them. They may seem afraid of us, but that’s just because they’ve been taught to do so.” He winced inwardly at the lie. “Really?”

“Yes, my little albatross.”

“Okay!” Her smile came back full force. He stood up, searching for the stands once more. Much to their annoyance, there was a large crowd of people in the way of the streets stand that were watching a group of dancers pirouette in the square, stopping their adventure in their tracks. The jolly music of harmonicas and banjos filled the air with whoops of joy and yelling. Rayla sighed in disappointment. “I guess we should go back to Dad now.” Her ears drooped. She turned around and started walking back. A call from Ethari stopped her. “Rayla! I’ve found a little passageway. Wanna try?” She did a full 180 to see her father point to a narrow streetway. Her ears went back to full mast. “Yeah!” She ran to Ethari, renewed delight scrawled onto her features.

The streetway was narrow, but it was still full of people. Elves of all kinds strolled through it, but more humans than elves manned the stalls. Ethari began to suspect something was wrong when he accidentally bumped into someone and a small, bejeweled dagger fell out of the hooded stranger’s clothes. His mind whirled with worry, but he tamped it down for the sake of his daughter. ‘Why am I so scared, anyway? This is an elf-friendly town and nobody is foolish enough to attack the family of the most famous pirate of this time. What is there to worry?’ As the streetway narrowed even further, his anxiety rose, until it reached his throat. ‘Something is wrong!’ He whirled around in a hasty frenzy, but nothing caught his eye. A tug on his clothing turned his gaze back downwards. “What’s wrong, Papa?” Rayla’s confused eyes acted as an anchor point for the antsy elf. His breathing slowed. His pulse stopped beating in his ears like a frantic drum. “N-nothing, sweetheart. I thought I-I saw something,” he stuttered. The road had narrowed to a one-person space only and alarm bells were ringing in his head like a death knell. He turned around. The hooded stranger from earlier was not far behind them. His mind raced. “H-how-”

“Did you think that we humans couldn’t do magic, too? Too bad. Hand the girl over.”

“N-no. This is my daughter.”

The stranger chuckled. “Really, now? Then why does she have the pirate king’s markings and you don’t?”

Ethari did a double take. “What?”

“Come on. Did you think that I would be that foolish?”

“I have the markings too.”

Ethari bared his arms, showing off the faintly-glowing markings. The human gasped quietly, a noise that Ethari barely heard, even with his sensitive hearing. The human shook their head.

“Unfortunately, my client told me the girl, and the girl only. If you won’t cooperate, we’ll take her by force.”

Ethari’s heart stopped. “We?”

The human looked at him, eyes glinting electric blue in the shaded darkness of the alley. “Yes, we. Who do you think was the first alerter to your presence? The people who were peddlers in the so-called ‘streetway’? We were all waiting for you, and you walked straight into our traps.”

The figure held their hand out. “Now, hand her over.”

Ethari bristled. “No! How dare you! We have not done a single thing to you or your city!”

“Very well then, we’ll do it the fun way. Suit yourself.”

Men began to surround the way the two came from. Ethari glanced back to see men cover the other way out of the alley. He raised his arms into a guard position, poised to fight. Rayla cowered beside him, trembling in fear.

The human raised their arms and stood there, static, unmoving. Ethari waited, breath held, ready for their first word. The human exhaled, and Ethari tensed. The slightest word fell from their lips. “Move.” And the men came from all sides. Ethari fell under a flurry of punches and kicks. He was strong, as he was a pirate and a former blacksmith, but even then, he could not fight against so many assailants unarmed. Pain flared from every point of contact, and Ethari cried out in pain whenever someone hit him in an extremely painful spot. His sight began to flicker, and with one last burst of strength, he reached out to his daughter, miraculously untouched other than a few jostles here and there. Rayla grabbed his hand one last time, and his mind went dark. His limp body fell to the floor, unmoving. Rayla shrieked in fear, concern, and sadness. “Papa!?” Hands grabbed her from all angles. She fought with them, desperation leaking into her features. A sharp tang assaulted her nostrils, and within a few seconds, she had followed her father into the realms of unrestful rest.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethari awoke to sharp pain all over his body and the concerned face of his husband. He hazily sat up, much to Runaan’s relief. “Oh my Xadia! Are you okay?” He drowsily smiled at his husband. He slurred, “Sure. I ‘eel fine. ‘ere’s ‘Ayla?” He looked around in confusion. “Yeah, that was my next question too. Where’s Rayla?” With those words, his anxiety skyrocketed. He shook himself out of his daze with a predatorial growl. “That little bastard- I’m gonna’ put ‘im in a barrel-” Ethari muttered, eyes taking on a deadly shade of anger. Runaan, confused, inquired, “What do you mean? Who are you talking about?” Ethari looked up at his concerned partner, and with a deep undertone of outrage at the hooded human, retold his story to Runaan. As the story went on, Runaan began to growl himself, and by the end of the tale, was already on his feet. “And that’s it? He’s just.. Gone? You let him?” Incredulity filled his tone and Ethari hissed in annoyance. “You blockhead. I just said that I tried my best to fight back! There were too many-”

“You still let him!”

“I tried my best!”

“It wasn’t enough!”

“I couldn’t do anything!”

“Rayla’s gone!” Ethari snapped his mouth closed. “She’s gone, Ethari. And it’s all your fault.”

Rage clouded his husband’s features. The face he had grown to love, to cherish, to care for with all his heart- Tears welled up under his eyelids, threatening to spill out onto the ground below. He turned around, sobbing, and ran in the direction he had entered. Tears altered his vision. His ears heard nothing but the echoes of “It’s all your fault.” His mind, usually full of words and thoughts, was silent, as if punishing him for his failure. “It’s all your fault.”

“It’s all your fault.”

“She’s gone….And it’s all your fault.”

#tdp #pirate!au #thenerdyalchemist #fanfic #inspired work #writing #the dragon prince #thedragonprinceofficial

30 notes · View notes

nationalparkposters · 3 years

Photo

White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park: White Sand National Park: Like No Other Place Else on Earth At White Sand Dunes National Park, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand engulf 275 square miles of desert and preserves a piece of New Mexico's unique geology. In fact, the gypsum dune field is the largest of its kind on Earth. Gypsum is rarely found as sand because it dissolves in contact with water. But, the isolation and weather patterns of the Tularosa Basin creates a truly unique experience for intrepid park explorers. Visitors can hike, enjoy ranger-led educational programs and even try sand sledding! White Sands was established as a national monument in 1933 and re-designated as a national park in December, 2019. Exploring White Sands National Park by Car Dunes Drive is an eight-mile scenic drive that leads from the visitor center into the heart of the gypsum dunefield. The 16-mile round-trip drive takes approximately 45 minutes. You will want to allow additional time to explore the dunes, take photos, and/or learn about the natural and cultural history of the world's largest gypsum dunefield. Along the road, you will find outdoor exhibits, hiking trails, picnic areas and parking areas. The first five miles of Dunes Drive are paved and the last three miles are a hard-packed gypsum sand road. The road is suitable for cars, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and buses. Missile Tests and Road Closures From time to time, White Sands Missile Range performs missile tests that may close Highway 70 to traffic. Depending on the nature of the testing, Dunes Drive may also be closed during missile tests for visitor safety. During these times, the visitor center remains open. Visitors are invited to view the museum exhibits, watch the 17-minute orientation film, and peruse the park store and gift shop while Dunes Drive is closed. Weather Weather conditions can change drastically—from sudden downpours to dust storms. The road can be slippery when wet, especially during the winter. It may also be harder to spot frozen water. For your safety, decrease your speed and brake gently to avoid skidding. Dust storms can drastically reduce visibility. Do not drive during a dust storm. Hiking the Dunes There is no better way to experience the unique landscape of White Sands National Park than by venturing out onto any of our five established trails. Explore the dunes and enjoy the silence and solitude of the dunefield with its stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The trails vary in terms of difficulty and scenery. Plan ahead to ensure you have a great and safe hike. Each trail is marked with a specific colored post (i.e., green, blue, orange, or red) and a symbol (i.e., hearts, clubs, spades, or diamonds). You should familiarize yourself with these colors and symbols to help orient yourself to the trail before you start your hike. This information will be critical if you become lost. Interdune Boardwalk The Interdune Boardwalk is fully accessible for people using wheelchairs and strollers. Take an easy 0.4 mile round trip stroll through the dunes and learn about the science, geology, plants, and animals that make White Sands an unequaled natural wonder. The boardwalk is a great place to take a break under the shade canopy, listen for bird calls, observe lizards and enjoy the wildflowers. Playa Trail The Playa Trail is an easy, 0.5 mile round-trip, level trail with outdoor exhibits along the way to help you learn and explore this trail and the characteristics that make it special. On this self-guided trail, you will discover the importance of a playa undergoing constant change. Learn how this change creates habitats for plants and animals. It may be brown, white, filled with water, or have growing crystals. See what the playa looks like today! At the end of the trail, you have the opportunity to travel back in time and see what this area looked like 10,000 years ago and learn about the giants that once roamed this land. Dune Life Nature Trail The Dune Life Nature Trail is a moderate, one-mile self-guided loop hike. Though not difficult, this hike does require hikers to climb two steep dunes with loose sand. Follow the blue trail markers with a club symbol. Meet Katy the Kit Fox and learn about her friends on this family-oriented trail. Look for tracks of the animals that call these dunes their home. Kit foxes, badgers, birds, rodents, and reptiles all live in this area. Backcountry Camping Trail The Backcountry Camping Trail is a moderate, 2-mile round-trip hike. Though backpackers hike the trail most frequently, it is also open to visitors who want a shorter hike through the heart of the dunes. Follow the orange trail markers with a spade symbol into an area of beautifully varied dunes and vegetation. The trail requires hikers to climb over several steep dunes and loose sand. There is no shade, no water, and no toilet facility along this trail. Alkali Flat Trail The Alkali Flat Trail is a strenuous, 5-mile round-trip hike. Follow the red trail markers with a diamond symbol. The Alkali Flat Trail skirts the edge of what is now the final remnant of Lake Otero. This trail is not flat! You will be hiking up and down dunes the entire way. Go only if you are prepared. There is no shade, no water, and no toilet facility along this trail. Native Plant Garden Trail Although White Sands is located in the arid Chihuahuan desert, it is also a place of amazing life and diversity. Learn about some of the native plants of the Chihuahuan desert by taking a walking tour of our native plant garden located in front of the visitor center. The best time for touring the native plant garden is from mid-March through late November. Many plants are dormant during the winter months. Most wildflowers begin blooming around the middle of April. Soaptree yuccas are the star of the spring flowers and typically blooms in late April through May. Some plants may continue to bloom throughout the summer, such as the Colorado four o' clock. Many plants, including the ocotillo, burst into bloom after monsoon rains. Fall colors can begin to appear as early as October and last through November. This is the time when the Rio Grande cottonwood trees begin to turn a beautiful orange and the skunkbush sumac start to turn a vibrant red. Bicycling Bicycling at White Sands is truly a unique experience—nowhere else in the world can you ride a bike on a hard-packed gypsum sand road through the heart of an immense gypsum dunefield! This distinctive experience requires one to be prepared and alert. What kind of bike is best for Dunes Drive? Rangers are frequently asked this question, and the response is, "It depends." The answer typically depends on the condition of the road. Dunes Drive is eight miles one-way. The first four miles are paved, and the rest of the road is hard-packed gypsum sand. Dunes Drive will frequently have a rough "washboard" surface, potholes, and sand drifts. These hazards make riding a bike on Dunes Drive challenging. Experienced riders on mountain and city/beach cruiser bikes with wide tires should be able to handle the varied road conditions and hazards. Road bikes with skinny street tires are not recommended on the sand-portion of Dunes Drive. Sand Sledding Sledding on the beautiful soft sand at White Sands National Park is a popular activity and great fun for children and adults alike. Unlike snow, sand is not slippery and sledding down the face of a dune can take some practice unless you have the correct equipment, know proper techniques and use safety precautions. Waxed plastic snow saucers work best and can be purchased at the park's gift shop. Please call the gift shop at 575-479-1629 before arriving to confirm the availability of sleds. You may also bring your own sleds. Choose a dune with a gently sloping face and a level run-off at the end so that you can come to a halt safely. Be aware of where the dune slope meets the desert floor. While the dune sand is soft, the area at the base of the dune can be very hard, and unintentional injuries are surprisingly common. Make sure the sledding path does not cross the roadway or parking areas and is free from hazards such as vegetation, hard clumps of sand, or other obstructions. Photographing the Dunes With the shifting light, shadows, and truly out-of-this world landscape make White Sands a photographer's paradise. You do not need an expensive camera to capture the beauty of the dunes. Great pictures, however, require the same techniques and way of looking at things that pros have learned. Every day at White Sands National Park will be different. Sometimes there are crystal clear views of the surrounding mountains and sometimes awesome cloud formations that change hues by the minute. The Sacramento Mountains to the east are especially beautiful just after the sun dips below the horizon where they are bathed in a pink afterglow. If you see a good photo, take it. Don't get so wrapped up in all the technical aspects of taking the photo that you miss the opportunity. Go out, have fun, enjoy the dunes and remember "leave footprints and take only pictures." Here are some things to consider: Hike to the top of the tallest dune around and take in the bird's eye view. The tallest dunes are toward the end of Dunes Drive near the Alkali Flat trailhead. Drop to your knees and look up. Yuccas against the sky and the delicacy of dune grasses are especially interesting from a low angle. The patterns left in the sand by grasses and leaves blown by the wind are fascinating. Sometimes you will find the tiny tracks of a darkling beetle just waiting to be recorded, and sometimes you'll find the actual beetle. The interdunal areas are great places to find animal tracks and rugged, gnarly plant growth. Most beginners tend to center objects and include the entire object in the frame. However, you'll end up with a more interesting photo when you shoot slightly off center and occasionally only include half of the object or two-thirds of it in the frame. This results in an unexpected look for the photo and in interesting composition. Placing a plant or rock in the near foreground of your photo will help the viewer see the scale and distance in your photograph. Give the viewer an object which will help them understand size and distance of your intended subject. The most important thing to remember is that the photographs you take are your own view of the subject and you have recorded these images for your own enjoyment.Taking good photographs is a way to record your memories of White Sands and other places you visit and to share those memories with family and friends. A Bit of Trivia White Sands National Park has been featured in a variety of films, including Four Faces West (1948), Hang 'Em High (1968), The Hired Hand (1971), My Name Is Nobody (1973), Bite the Bullett (1975), Young Guns II (1990), King Solomon's Mines (1950), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), and Transformers (2007). Click here to see the White Sands National Park poster! https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/white-sands-national-park?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_campaign=RSS

0 notes

topfygad · 5 years

Text

Where to Travel in July: The Best Adventure Destinations Around the World

In North America and Europe, July all but guarantees sunshine. And I don’t mean a bit of sun poking out from behind the clouds like the icon on your iPhone weather app. Oh, no. I’m talking about the kind of sunshine that bathes the land in a golden glow until bedtime.

July means getting outside and absorbing some of that much-needed vitamin D. If it means pausing your Netflix marathon, then so be it.

The southern hemisphere, however, is a whole different ballgame. Down south, July translates to peak winter, and this time of year is considered either ski season or stay-inside-and-wait-out-the-storm season. Sure, there’s fun to be had in the snow, but the real adventures in July happen under that northern sunshine.

With that in mind, go find the settings in your email and select the “automated” email option. Write something along the lines of, “I’m out of the office on vacation, so leave me alone.”

Hire a dog sitter if you must—I’m sure your best buddy owes you for something. Reschedule any appointments; they can wait. And then go stock up on some sunscreen.

1. Vancouver, Canada for Urban and Outdoor Adventures

Vancouver is the kind of city that has everything, and July is the perfect time to enjoy it all. The sun is out and the notoriously rainy city is at its driest.

The city itself is a pulsing metropolis complete with ice cream parlors, brunch spots, malls, museums, and all the other requisite modern conveniences. And, in just an hour’s drive, the entire landscape can completely change.

Drive north out of Vancouver and you’ll encounter the Sea to Sky Highway, a road that winds all the way up into the Rocky Mountains. Follow the road for around 45 minutes and you’ll get to the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. If you’re interested in breathtaking views and natural beauty (who isn’t?) then hop in.

View of the Stawamus Chief in Squamish. Worth it!

At $45 for a day pass, the gondola isn’t the most budget-friendly activity, but there are two reasons why it’s worth forking out. First, you get front row views of the Howe Sound, a network of beautiful fjords—think mirror-like water flanked by rugged green slopes.

Second, once you reach the top of the gondola, you can spend all day exploring the nature trails through the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. The Panorama Trail is a popular one since it’s just over a mile long and has several viewpoints that look out over the Fjords.

Drive west out of Vancouver and you hit the beach. Second Beach in Stanley Park is perfect for a BBQ and pitch and putt, while Kitsilano Beach is better for swimming thanks to its calm water. If you’re feeling more adventurous, shed your swimwear and head to the clothing-optional Wreck Beach.

2. Mongolia for Off-the-Beaten Track Travel

Mongolia is the Wild West of Asia. It has the lowest population density of any country in the world (just 1 person per square mile) and is home to one of the last groups of nomadic people.

A trip to Mongolia means spending a lot of time out in staggeringly beautiful nature. The capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the country’s only city and is also home to the majority of the population. This means not only do you have loads of beautiful nature to explore, but you’ll also have it virtually all to yourself.

Unearthly Mongolian landscape.

There is a good chance that, if you venture off into the Mongolian countryside, you will not see another living soul for days on end. What you will see, however, is the gorgeous Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake, the formidable mountains of Altai Tavn Bogd National Park and Gorkhi-Terelj National Park’s lush, endless valley.

But, the countryside is only half of the story. July in Mongolia is all about the Naadam Festival—the biggest festival of nomadic culture in the world, happening annually between July 10-12. The main Naadam Festival is in Ulaanbaatar, but every province holds their own version. There are three core events at the festival: wrestling, horse racing, and archery—each done with its own Mongolian flare.

Interspersed between the “three manly sports” as they are known, men, women and children perform dances, songs and parades. It is a loud, colorful event, unlike anything you will have ever seen. If you want an experience that will make you sound interesting at dinner parties, this will do the trick.

3. Lofoten Islands for Adventure

Not everyone wants the scorching heat of the Mediterranean for their summer vacation. Some people would rather enjoy a milder climate and be able to spend more than five minutes outside without sweating.

If that’s you, you should consider going to Norway’s Lofoten Islands. In July, the weather will be pleasant if a little erratic—don’t worry though, bad weather spells turn into glowing sunshine within 10 minutes or so.

Each endowed with a name you would humiliate yourself trying to pronounce, the Lofoten Islands are a mecca for adventure-seekers. Surfing is a popular activity in the water surrounding the islands. Even if you’ve never surfed before, have a go just so you can tick “surf above the Arctic Circle” off your bucket list.

Incredible views around the Lofoten Islands

On land, there are dozens of hiking trails through the glorious fjords. The path to the Reinebringen lookout point is one of the most spectacular routes—mainly due to the uninhibited views you’ll get over Reinefjorden and the Lofoten Wall.

If you visit the Lofoten Islands in July, you will also witness the midnight sun. This natural phenomenon occurs in the Arctic Circle from mid-May to July. For around six weeks the sun never sets. Instead, at night, the land is doused in a soft twilight that is a long way from the darkness. This means you have 24 hours a day to enjoy the stunning scenery of the islands.

4. Belize for Great Diving

Unlike the rest of Central America, Belize was once a British colony, which means everyone there speaks English. Also unlike the rest of Central America, the people and culture in Belize are Caribbean, not Latino. So, this little gem stands out from its neighbors, and you don’t even need a phrasebook on hand to help you get by.

In July, the temperature hovers around the low to mid-80s and, while this is technically the rainy season, it is one of the better months to travel.

Belize’s insanely blue waters is reason enough to visit, no? | Photo Credit: MaxPixel

We all know by now that travel companies hike up their prices during peak season and July is often when they are at their most exorbitant. However, July in Belize is not peak season despite the warm weather. If you can handle the occasional bit of rain then July is a cheap and temperate time to visit Belize.

Once you get to Belize, I recommend heading straight out to the islands of Caye Caulker and Caye Ambergris. The number one activity on these islands is scuba diving—in particular diving in the world famous Great Blue Hole. This giant sinkhole is teeming with hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, giant groupers and every color of tropical fish you could imagine.

Don’t have time to go to the islands? The ATM caves near San Ignacio on the mainland are ripe for adventure. Tours take you floating on a rubber ring through the extensive cave river network with stops for exploring the cave by foot. If you’re lucky your guide will let you cliff jump into the deep and icy cave pools.

5. Switzerland for Mountain Hiking

Forget about skiing in the Alps just for a second and try to picture Switzerland in the summer. Instead of endless ski pistes, the iconic mountains of Switzerland are fully thawed and blanketed with a layer of lush, green grass. It’s the kind of scenery that makes you want to run around and burst into song like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.

July is the most beautiful and happiest time of the year to visit.

Switzerland might not be the biggest country on the map, but it sure packs a punch when it comes to adventure activities. There are around 250 miles of hiking trails leading through the picturesque Zermatt region. Be sure to snap a photo or two of the oh-so-impressive Matterhorn looming in the background.

These views though! Is there a bad view in Switzerland?

Lake Geneva is another summer hotspot, blessed with scenery that will stop you in your tracks. The lake itself shimmers under the sun while Lausanne and Geneva hug its shoreline. Either stroll around the edge of the lake and take it all in from the comfort of dry land or grab a paddleboard and head out onto the water.

Side note for people with a sweet tooth (like myself): Switzerland is the home of chocolate. Do with this information what you will.

6. Seychelles for Beaches

The Seychelles are the definition of paradise islands. White sand, impossibly turquoise water, coconut palms, year-round sunshine—this archipelago ticks all the boxes. While there are 115 islands in the Seychelles altogether, you will spend most of your time on the three main islands: Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.

On Praslin, you will find the UNESCO World Heritage Vallée de Mai, a nature reserve known for its outstanding beauty. Here, you can walk under the giant leaves of the endemic coco de mer palm trees and listen to the cries of the rare black parrots.

There are no bad choices when exploring the Seychelles.

Looking for some peace and quiet? La Digue is almost free of motorized vehicles—and roads for that matter. The best way to explore the island is on two wheels. Cycle across the little island to the Veuve Nature Reserve and see if you can spot the Seychelles Black Paradise Flycatcher, one of the rarest birds in the world.

One requirement of a trip to the Seychelles is at least one (but probably more) day spent on the beach. Anse Coco on La Digue, Anse Intendance on Mahé and Anse Georgette on Praslin are among the most pristine thanks to their pearl white sand and notable lack of trash. Honestly, though, any beach you choose will be amazing.

7. Estonia for City Fun and Spa Treatments

In July, Estonia’s temperature is utterly delightful and there is very little rain. On top of that, due to its northerly location, the month of July bears witness to virtually 24-hour sunshine. If you’re looking for adventure in Estonia, there’s no better time of year to visit.

Start your vacation by getting to grips with the capital: Tallinn. At its center is a city cut through with narrow streets and enclosed by towering medieval walls. Check out the town square and climb the 115 steps within the tower attached to the town hall for just a couple of euros—from here you’ll get a panoramic view over the capital.

Gorgeous views of Old Tallinn.

Now it’s time to head out of the city to Pärnu, Estonia’s summer capital. During the warmer months, this town is packed with people looking for spa mud treatments and beach time. It is the kind of place you go to stroll through parks and take it easy.

You can also use Pärnu as a springboard to explore the Soomaa National Park. This comprises predominantly bog and swampland, but it’s super pretty, I promise.

There are various trails that wind through the park. There’s also a boardwalk that runs over the top of the swamp. The Beaver Trail is the best route if you want to spot wildlife. This includes elk, foxes, lynx and, you guessed it, beavers.

It is a cardinal sin to spend your whole summer in the office. This year, treat yourself to a break from the mundane and seek out an adventure overseas. You’ll come back refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to bore all of your friends with traveling stories.

Which of these places has you frantically packing to get away?

READ MORE: 11 U.S. National Parks That Are Ripe for Adventure

Want to travel more?

We can help you manifest your dreams of traveling the world. Sign up for FREE to get started.

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2M42NI1 via https://ift.tt/2NIqXKN

0 notes

nationalparkposters · 4 years

Photo

White Sands National Park

White Sands National Park: White Sand National Park: Like No Other Place Else on Earth At White Sand Dunes National Park, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand engulf 275 square miles of desert and preserves a piece of New Mexico's unique geology. In fact, the gypsum dune field is the largest of its kind on Earth. Gypsum is rarely found as sand because it dissolves in contact with water. But, the isolation and weather patterns of the Tularosa Basin creates a truly unique experience for intrepid park explorers. Visitors can hike, enjoy ranger-led educational programs and even try sand sledding! White Sands was established as a national monument in 1933 and re-designated as a national park in December, 2019. Exploring White Sands National Park by Car Dunes Drive is an eight-mile scenic drive that leads from the visitor center into the heart of the gypsum dunefield. The 16-mile round-trip drive takes approximately 45 minutes. You will want to allow additional time to explore the dunes, take photos, and/or learn about the natural and cultural history of the world's largest gypsum dunefield. Along the road, you will find outdoor exhibits, hiking trails, picnic areas and parking areas. The first five miles of Dunes Drive are paved and the last three miles are a hard-packed gypsum sand road. The road is suitable for cars, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and buses. Missile Tests and Road Closures From time to time, White Sands Missile Range performs missile tests that may close Highway 70 to traffic. Depending on the nature of the testing, Dunes Drive may also be closed during missile tests for visitor safety. During these times, the visitor center remains open. Visitors are invited to view the museum exhibits, watch the 17-minute orientation film, and peruse the park store and gift shop while Dunes Drive is closed. Weather Weather conditions can change drastically—from sudden downpours to dust storms. The road can be slippery when wet, especially during the winter. It may also be harder to spot frozen water. For your safety, decrease your speed and brake gently to avoid skidding. Dust storms can drastically reduce visibility. Do not drive during a dust storm. Hiking the Dunes There is no better way to experience the unique landscape of White Sands National Park than by venturing out onto any of our five established trails. Explore the dunes and enjoy the silence and solitude of the dunefield with its stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The trails vary in terms of difficulty and scenery. Plan ahead to ensure you have a great and safe hike. Each trail is marked with a specific colored post (i.e., green, blue, orange, or red) and a symbol (i.e., hearts, clubs, spades, or diamonds). You should familiarize yourself with these colors and symbols to help orient yourself to the trail before you start your hike. This information will be critical if you become lost. Interdune Boardwalk The Interdune Boardwalk is fully accessible for people using wheelchairs and strollers. Take an easy 0.4 mile round trip stroll through the dunes and learn about the science, geology, plants, and animals that make White Sands an unequaled natural wonder. The boardwalk is a great place to take a break under the shade canopy, listen for bird calls, observe lizards and enjoy the wildflowers. Playa Trail The Playa Trail is an easy, 0.5 mile round-trip, level trail with outdoor exhibits along the way to help you learn and explore this trail and the characteristics that make it special. On this self-guided trail, you will discover the importance of a playa undergoing constant change. Learn how this change creates habitats for plants and animals. It may be brown, white, filled with water, or have growing crystals. See what the playa looks like today! At the end of the trail, you have the opportunity to travel back in time and see what this area looked like 10,000 years ago and learn about the giants that once roamed this land. Dune Life Nature Trail The Dune Life Nature Trail is a moderate, one-mile self-guided loop hike. Though not difficult, this hike does require hikers to climb two steep dunes with loose sand. Follow the blue trail markers with a club symbol. Meet Katy the Kit Fox and learn about her friends on this family-oriented trail. Look for tracks of the animals that call these dunes their home. Kit foxes, badgers, birds, rodents, and reptiles all live in this area. Backcountry Camping Trail The Backcountry Camping Trail is a moderate, 2-mile round-trip hike. Though backpackers hike the trail most frequently, it is also open to visitors who want a shorter hike through the heart of the dunes. Follow the orange trail markers with a spade symbol into an area of beautifully varied dunes and vegetation. The trail requires hikers to climb over several steep dunes and loose sand. There is no shade, no water, and no toilet facility along this trail. Alkali Flat Trail The Alkali Flat Trail is a strenuous, 5-mile round-trip hike. Follow the red trail markers with a diamond symbol. The Alkali Flat Trail skirts the edge of what is now the final remnant of Lake Otero. This trail is not flat! You will be hiking up and down dunes the entire way. Go only if you are prepared. There is no shade, no water, and no toilet facility along this trail. Native Plant Garden Trail Although White Sands is located in the arid Chihuahuan desert, it is also a place of amazing life and diversity. Learn about some of the native plants of the Chihuahuan desert by taking a walking tour of our native plant garden located in front of the visitor center. The best time for touring the native plant garden is from mid-March through late November. Many plants are dormant during the winter months. Most wildflowers begin blooming around the middle of April. Soaptree yuccas are the star of the spring flowers and typically blooms in late April through May. Some plants may continue to bloom throughout the summer, such as the Colorado four o' clock. Many plants, including the ocotillo, burst into bloom after monsoon rains. Fall colors can begin to appear as early as October and last through November. This is the time when the Rio Grande cottonwood trees begin to turn a beautiful orange and the skunkbush sumac start to turn a vibrant red. Bicycling Bicycling at White Sands is truly a unique experience—nowhere else in the world can you ride a bike on a hard-packed gypsum sand road through the heart of an immense gypsum dunefield! This distinctive experience requires one to be prepared and alert. What kind of bike is best for Dunes Drive? Rangers are frequently asked this question, and the response is, "It depends." The answer typically depends on the condition of the road. Dunes Drive is eight miles one-way. The first four miles are paved, and the rest of the road is hard-packed gypsum sand. Dunes Drive will frequently have a rough "washboard" surface, potholes, and sand drifts. These hazards make riding a bike on Dunes Drive challenging. Experienced riders on mountain and city/beach cruiser bikes with wide tires should be able to handle the varied road conditions and hazards. Road bikes with skinny street tires are not recommended on the sand-portion of Dunes Drive. Sand Sledding Sledding on the beautiful soft sand at White Sands National Park is a popular activity and great fun for children and adults alike. Unlike snow, sand is not slippery and sledding down the face of a dune can take some practice unless you have the correct equipment, know proper techniques and use safety precautions. Waxed plastic snow saucers work best and can be purchased at the park's gift shop. Please call the gift shop at 575-479-1629 before arriving to confirm the availability of sleds. You may also bring your own sleds. Choose a dune with a gently sloping face and a level run-off at the end so that you can come to a halt safely. Be aware of where the dune slope meets the desert floor. While the dune sand is soft, the area at the base of the dune can be very hard, and unintentional injuries are surprisingly common. Make sure the sledding path does not cross the roadway or parking areas and is free from hazards such as vegetation, hard clumps of sand, or other obstructions. Photographing the Dunes With the shifting light, shadows, and truly out-of-this world landscape make White Sands a photographer's paradise. You do not need an expensive camera to capture the beauty of the dunes. Great pictures, however, require the same techniques and way of looking at things that pros have learned. Every day at White Sands National Park will be different. Sometimes there are crystal clear views of the surrounding mountains and sometimes awesome cloud formations that change hues by the minute. The Sacramento Mountains to the east are especially beautiful just after the sun dips below the horizon where they are bathed in a pink afterglow. If you see a good photo, take it. Don't get so wrapped up in all the technical aspects of taking the photo that you miss the opportunity. Go out, have fun, enjoy the dunes and remember "leave footprints and take only pictures." Here are some things to consider: Hike to the top of the tallest dune around and take in the bird's eye view. The tallest dunes are toward the end of Dunes Drive near the Alkali Flat trailhead. Drop to your knees and look up. Yuccas against the sky and the delicacy of dune grasses are especially interesting from a low angle. The patterns left in the sand by grasses and leaves blown by the wind are fascinating. Sometimes you will find the tiny tracks of a darkling beetle just waiting to be recorded, and sometimes you'll find the actual beetle. The interdunal areas are great places to find animal tracks and rugged, gnarly plant growth. Most beginners tend to center objects and include the entire object in the frame. However, you'll end up with a more interesting photo when you shoot slightly off center and occasionally only include half of the object or two-thirds of it in the frame. This results in an unexpected look for the photo and in interesting composition. Placing a plant or rock in the near foreground of your photo will help the viewer see the scale and distance in your photograph. Give the viewer an object which will help them understand size and distance of your intended subject. The most important thing to remember is that the photographs you take are your own view of the subject and you have recorded these images for your own enjoyment.Taking good photographs is a way to record your memories of White Sands and other places you visit and to share those memories with family and friends. A Bit of Trivia White Sands National Park has been featured in a variety of films, including Four Faces West (1948), Hang 'Em High (1968), The Hired Hand (1971), My Name Is Nobody (1973), Bite the Bullett (1975), Young Guns II (1990), King Solomon's Mines (1950), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), and Transformers (2007). https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/white-sands-national-park

0 notes

topfygad · 5 years

Text

Where to Travel in July: The Best Adventure Destinations Around the World

July means getting outside and absorbing some of that much-needed vitamin D. If it means pausing your Netflix marathon, then so be it.

With that in mind, go find the settings in your email and select the “automated” email option. Write something along the lines of, “I’m out of the office on vacation, so leave me alone.”

Hire a dog sitter if you must—I’m sure your best buddy owes you for something. Reschedule any appointments; they can wait. And then go stock up on some sunscreen.

1. Vancouver, Canada for Urban and Outdoor Adventures

Vancouver is the kind of city that has everything, and July is the perfect time to enjoy it all. The sun is out and the notoriously rainy city is at its driest.

View of the Stawamus Chief in Squamish. Worth it!

2. Mongolia for Off-the-Beaten Track Travel

Mongolia is the Wild West of Asia. It has the lowest population density of any country in the world (just 1 person per square mile) and is home to one of the last groups of nomadic people.

Unearthly Mongolian landscape.

3. Lofoten Islands for Adventure

Incredible views around the Lofoten Islands

4. Belize for Great Diving

In July, the temperature hovers around the low to mid-80s and, while this is technically the rainy season, it is one of the better months to travel.

Belize’s insanely blue waters is reason enough to visit, no? | Photo Credit: MaxPixel

5. Switzerland for Mountain Hiking

July is the most beautiful and happiest time of the year to visit.

These views though! Is there a bad view in Switzerland?

Side note for people with a sweet tooth (like myself): Switzerland is the home of chocolate. Do with this information what you will.

6. Seychelles for Beaches

There are no bad choices when exploring the Seychelles.

7. Estonia for City Fun and Spa Treatments

Gorgeous views of Old Tallinn.

You can also use Pärnu as a springboard to explore the Soomaa National Park. This comprises predominantly bog and swampland, but it’s super pretty, I promise.

Which of these places has you frantically packing to get away?

READ MORE: 11 U.S. National Parks That Are Ripe for Adventure

Want to travel more?

We can help you manifest your dreams of traveling the world. Sign up for FREE to get started.

source http://cheaprtravels.com/where-to-travel-in-july-the-best-adventure-destinations-around-the-world/

0 notes

topfygad · 5 years

Text

Where to Travel in July: The Best Adventure Destinations Around the World

July means getting outside and absorbing some of that much-needed vitamin D. If it means pausing your Netflix marathon, then so be it.

With that in mind, go find the settings in your email and select the “automated” email option. Write something along the lines of, “I’m out of the office on vacation, so leave me alone.”

Hire a dog sitter if you must—I’m sure your best buddy owes you for something. Reschedule any appointments; they can wait. And then go stock up on some sunscreen.

1. Vancouver, Canada for Urban and Outdoor Adventures

Vancouver is the kind of city that has everything, and July is the perfect time to enjoy it all. The sun is out and the notoriously rainy city is at its driest.

View of the Stawamus Chief in Squamish. Worth it!

2. Mongolia for Off-the-Beaten Track Travel

Mongolia is the Wild West of Asia. It has the lowest population density of any country in the world (just 1 person per square mile) and is home to one of the last groups of nomadic people.

Unearthly Mongolian landscape.

3. Lofoten Islands for Adventure

Incredible views around the Lofoten Islands

4. Belize for Great Diving

In July, the temperature hovers around the low to mid-80s and, while this is technically the rainy season, it is one of the better months to travel.

Belize’s insanely blue waters is reason enough to visit, no? | Photo Credit: MaxPixel

5. Switzerland for Mountain Hiking

July is the most beautiful and happiest time of the year to visit.

These views though! Is there a bad view in Switzerland?

Side note for people with a sweet tooth (like myself): Switzerland is the home of chocolate. Do with this information what you will.

6. Seychelles for Beaches

There are no bad choices when exploring the Seychelles.

7. Estonia for City Fun and Spa Treatments

Gorgeous views of Old Tallinn.

You can also use Pärnu as a springboard to explore the Soomaa National Park. This comprises predominantly bog and swampland, but it’s super pretty, I promise.

Which of these places has you frantically packing to get away?

READ MORE: 11 U.S. National Parks That Are Ripe for Adventure

Want to travel more?

We can help you manifest your dreams of traveling the world. Sign up for FREE to get started.

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2M42NI1 via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Cheapr Travels

0 notes