Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful natural parks in the United States.  With its abundance of diverse sights, from the impressive granite cliffs, to the spectacular waterfalls, there’s nature at her best everywhere you look. 

One of the best known must see features of Yosemite National Park is Glacier Point.  This isn’t open year round, but usually between June and November you can guarantee access up to enjoy the magnificent views from the top.  There are many waterfalls in the park, with Yosemite Falls being the highest at just under 2,500 feet.  The best time to see the waterfalls is early summer.  Whilst some of the falls are easily accessible; others take more time and effort in order to be able to appreciate their beauty. 

Another popular area of Yosemite is the Yosemite Valley.  This is an area full of breathtaking views – including the El Capitan Meadow, Bridalveil Meadow (with its views of Bridalveil Fall), and the Sentinal Brudge.  If you’re inspired to take a hike amidst all this natural wonder, there’s a gentle 1 mile walk in the Tuolumne Meadows which will take you about 30 minutes.  History lovers will be enchanted with the Pioneer Yosemite History Center where they can walk across a covered bridge, and see exhibits such as horse drawn carriages.  In the Yosemite Valley there are a number of museum/buildings that provide an interesting diversion from the beauty of the outdoors scenery!  Although you aren’t likely to find many bears around Yosemite, it’s not unheard of, but you are more likely to see deer – especially in the early morning.

There’s so much to take in on a visit to Yosemite you’ll need to make sure you have plenty film for your camera, or space on your digital camera card, to record it all.  One thing’s for sure, it’s a place you’ll always remember, and most likely want to return to at a future date!

Zion National Park in Utah, is a naturalist’s dream.  Containing some 290 or so species of distinct animals it is an amazing place of sandstone red and deer tan contrasts sharply against the coniferous trees, cottonwood, Cacti, and willow.  Its a diverse, and unique area of the world with an abundance of plant and animal diversity.

The plant and animal life in the park is partially due to the diverse merging distinctly different areas – the Great Basin, the Mojave desert, and the Colorado Plateau, its filled with close to 300 bird species, 20 types of bat, more than 30 reptiles and seventy five different mammals, including the Mountain Lion, The Golden Eagle and the recently reintroduced California Condors.

The most prominent feature, cut by the Virgin River, is the 15 mile long canyon, the Zion Canyon. 

Inhabited for over 8000 years by Indian tribes of various kinds, it was settled by  Mormons in the 1860’s it became a national park in the early 20^th Century.   The Zion Canyon and the Kobold arch (so named after the nearest star to God, according to Mormon religion) are two of the most stunning sites of the park, and are breathtaking and amazing and well worth the visit.

There are various hikes that you can take through the grounds ranging from gentle hikes that you can take in a morning, to all day walks that challenge your stamina and fitness and takes you through the best parts of the park.

Its name means ‘protection’ in Hebrew, and its peace and tranquility is evident whether you’re hiking, driving through on the shuttle bus or exploring within the bounds of the lower steppes.

Tourism is encouraged throughout the year, but from April to October, the roads are closed within the park to all but shuttle buses.  In part, this is to protect the roads running through the park, but its also to keep an close reign on where the visitors go.

When you first arrive in this city, you could be forgiven for not realizing that this is actually the state capital of Illinois – it lacks the hustle and bustle usually associated with most state capitals, and certainly lacks the energy of Illinois’s most famous city, Chicago.  However, the gentle sereneness of Springfield are in keeping with its history, for this is Lincoln’s town.  He was part of the group of people responsible for making Springfield the state capital, and this is his final resting place.

Apart from the limestone built capitol building from where Abraham Lincoln gave his “House Divided” speech, there’s also a Lincoln Home Visitors Center which shows a short movie on the Springfield that Lincoln loved, and where you can obtain free tickets to take a walk around the restored Lincoln home on 8^th and Jackson Street.  As a visual lesson in how people lived “back then” the home is an interesting place to visit. 

For those who don’t think that it’s morbid, a visit to Lincoln’s tomb isn’t to be missed.  Situated in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Lincoln’s tomb contains not only his remains, but also those of Mary Todd, his wife, and their three sons.

If the Lincoln memorial gets a bit too much, have a change of pace by visiting the preserved home of another famous Springfield resident, Frank Lloyd Wright.  Named the Dana-Thomas House, this is only a few blocks from the Capitol building, and still contains some original fixtures from his time there.

As a destination, unless you’re a history buff, or enjoy wandering around some of America’s more charming towns, Springfield’s probably not the best place to choose, but as an overnight stop, or a day trip, there’s plenty to look at and it’s definitely worth the visit.

Family vacations are times for bonding and memory building.  They’re also a time when dreams of exotic locations, or one in a lifetime opportunities/challenges are realized.   All of these are possible at Discovery Cove, Florida.  Situated beside the more typical theme park of SeaWorld, in Orlando, this isn’t a cheap excursion, nor is it a park full of rides, shows and tours.  Instead, here you will experience something that you won’t find in many other places.  You’ll get to swim with dolphins.

Another contrast to the larger parks is that at Discovery Coves visitors are put into small groups, each with its own staff member to lead it around the park.  There’s an age limit to the dolphin swim so if you’ve got under 6’s you’ll need to consider that before deciding on a visit to this park.  Another “housekeeping” tip is that trips to Discovery Cove must be pre-booked, and lunch is included – as is all of the equipment hire such as wet suit, snorkel and even a towel if required.

Apart from being taught how to communicate with the dolphins and being allowed to swim with them in your small group, you will be able to spend the rest of the day enjoying the birds that fly over beautiful beaches on the property, together with snorkeling off the various reefs packed with marine life, and exploring hidden grottos.  It’s an unforgettable experience!

For anyone who is interested in working in this kind of environment, Discovery Cove offers a Trainer for a Day program where the limited number of visitors who are on the program are allowed a closer connection with the animals and get to work alongside the regular staff members for that day. 

Discovery Cove may be missing the wilder exhibits that its neighboring theme parks are noted for, but it more than makes up for this in terms of sheer magic, beauty and wildlife. 

Situated at 350 Fifth Avenue is one of the most famous of New York’s impressive buildings.  Instantly recognizable from such movies as King Kong, An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle, the Empire State Building stands as one of the most well known skyscrapers in the world.

With its art deco architecture, the Empire State Building’s observation deck on the 80^th Floor is where most visitors head.  There’s a charge to enter the observation deck but it’s not too expensive, especially considering the unique view of New York and the surrounding area you’ll get from the top.  There are 73 elevators in the building – these can take you from ground level to the 80^th floor in a matter of seconds - but those who are more active, or like a challenge, the alternative is a 1,575 step climb – of course you could just take the elevator up and walk down if you prefer!

The Empire State Building is open daily from 9.30am until midnight – make sure you arrive in time to be allowed access as the building may shut at midnight, but they like the observation deck cleared prior to then.  Despite its closing time, it’s just as good an experience to see New York from the Observation Deck at night as it as by day.  Although you can’t see as far as you can in daylight, the lights of New York make the night visit special in its own right.

Although the Empire State Building is mainly for those who like to look rather than do, there is a hidden gem on the second floor for those who enjoy a thrill ride.  The New York Skyride is a flight stimulator which will have you hanging to your seat as the images take you on a fast paced virtual reality aerial tour of the “Big Apple”. 

For its celebrity, architectural beauty, spectacular views and not forgetting the incredible Skyride tour, a visit to the Empire State Building should be on every visitor’s itinerary.