Most people who go to the Galápagos Islands are there to see the wildlife. On my recent five-day cruise with Hurtigruten Expeditions, the passengers chattered about which animals they were most excited to see. Birders, binoculars in hand, anticipated a flightless cormorant sighting. I dreamed of swimming with a marine iguana. And everybody wanted to see the iconic blue-footed boobies do their mating dance.
Africa has its Big 5 of charismatic megafauna. But in the Galápagos, wildlife enthusiasts relish the scaly, smooth, or feathered glory of the Big 15. Here’s what you can see if you visit these remote islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.
Death Valley in eastern California holds records for being the lowest place in North America and the hottest place on earth. In July 2018, the national park reached highs of 127 degrees Fahrenheit four days in a row. So why would anybody visit such a hellish place? Despite its ominous name, Death Valley is full of beautiful landscapes, history, and fun things to do outdoors. But we recommend going in winter when the average temperatures are in the 60s and 70s with a low of around 40 degrees. Here are a few of the places you might want to stop on a Death Valley road trip.
If you’ve ever gone ziplining, you know it’s hard to carry snacks with you. Anything you bring will likely be lost to you forever if it drops into the tree canopy below. But don’t cry over spilled trail mix. At Soneva Fushi, a luxury eco-resort in the Maldives, you can zipline straight to a fine dining restaurant.
Courtesy of Soneva
On February 1, Chef Alberto Faccani, who can usually be found at two-Michelin-starred Magnolia Ristorante in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, began a three-month residency at Soneva Fushi. Magnolia’s Chef de Partie, Sean Conti, is joining Faccani at the treetop restaurant. Guests will fly about 39 feet in the air on the roughly 600-foot zipline before landing at the Flying Sauces dining platform.
Flying Sauces chefs Sean Conti and Alberto Faccani. / Courtesy of Soneva
Flying Sauces originally opened at Soneva Fushi in late 2021. Flying Sauces has also hosted a few high-profile visiting chefs before Faccani. Chef Julien Roye of Singapore’s acclaimed three-Michelin-starred Odette restaurant worked at the zipline restaurant from February to April 2022. Chef Pascale Barbot of Paris’s two-Michelin-starred Astrance restaurant was there from October 2022 to January 2023.
Why dine high in the trees? “This new experience gives our guests a new perspective of our unique island eco-system, allowing them to reconnect with the sights and sounds of nature while enjoying fine dining hospitality at the same time,” said Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and co-founder of Soneva.
Courtesy of Soneva
Faccani is excited to be cooking in the Maldives. “The sea is a part of me, and feeling it close to me gives me the energy and strength I need,” he said. “Its breeze accompanies me, every day, all the way to the kitchen. This allows me to unleash my creativity through different forms, giving traditional recipes a new and contemporary twist.”
A six-course dinner at Flying Sauces costs $350, or $204 for guests on a full or half board plan at Soneva Fushi. Dishes include toasted wahoo with tosazu, celery, green apple, and nori seaweed and a meal of ravioli, cacio e pepe, red prawns, lime, and chives.
Flying Sauces at night. / Courtesy of Soneva
Despite the high price tag, there is no dress code at Flying Sauces. Soneva Fushi has a come-as-you-are policy, no shoes required. Though you might want some sneakers for the zip line ride.
Every year, the third Saturday of August marks International Geocaching Day. For seasoned geocachers, the day is an opportunity to celebrate a fun, adventurous hobby. For those out of the geocaching loop, the day likely raises a lot of questions. What is geocaching? How does it work? How can I get started? Jumping into a new hobby can be overwhelming, but you can find all the answers you need here.
Since the early 2000s, geocaching has grown into a massive, worldwide phenomenon. While plenty of resources exist to introduce you to geocaching (such as the essential Geocaching.com), here is a simple guide to help beginners get started.
Geocaching definition
As the official Geocaching.com blog explains, “geocaching is a real-world, outdoor adventure that is happening all the time, all around the world. To play, participants use the Geocaching app and/or a GPS device to navigate to cleverly hidden containers called geocaches.”
Put simply, geocaching is a hobby where participants can find hidden items (geocaches) and leave hidden items for others to find. Described as “the world’s largest treasure hunt,” geocaching makes the perfect outdoor adventure. Not only does geocaching get you outside and exploring the world, but it also rewards you with interesting trinkets and connects you to other geocachers in your area. Experienced geocachers have kept up guest books in their hidden containers and even found geocaches with gift cards, polished stones, and more.
How to start geocaching for beginners
First, you’ll want to download the Geocaching app. The app offers premium plans for dedicated geocachers, but beginners can access all the important functions for free. After creating an account, you can explore a map of geocache locations near you. Beginners can start by locating one in their neighborhood. Geocache locations will be marked on the map with a green dot. Check each geocache’s profile for a difficulty rating, a brief description of its size and type, and hints to help you find the treasure.
What do you do once you find the geocache? There are many options. Often, geocaches include a guestbook that logs every person who has visited the location. Bring a pen on your geocaching adventure so you can add your name. You can also mark your find in the Geocaching app and leave future visitors hints. Once you learn the ropes of geocaching, you can even set up a geocache of your own.
For every nature-loving outdoorsy type, there is a person who detests going outside. The buzzing insects, unpredictable weather, and bright sunlight that outdoor adventurers find charming can simultaneously send the nature-averse running. Still, no one wants to miss out on incredible life experiences because they were cooped up inside all day. So, what can people who hate the outdoors do to find the fun in nature? Here are eight outdoor activities to try.
Watch: Two ice climbers were forced to take a swim in the frigid waters of the Arctic when the iceberg they were climbing suddenly flipped over.
Two ice climbers were forced to take a swim in the frigid waters of the Arctic when the iceberg they were climbing suddenly flipped over.
Mike Horn, an explorer for 30 years, told France Bleu he thought about it for a long time before posting video of the mishap on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I’ve been doing my stupid things for 30 years all over the world. I’ve had quite a few accidents, but we always try to make the right decision at the right time, to come home alive,” Horn told France Bleu.
He explained that by posting video of the misadventure he hoped other people would learn from his mistakes because, “We all have icebergs to climb in our lives.”
As they began to climb, the iceberg, as they are known to do, starting to flip. They attempted to quickly climb upwards but ultimately were too slow, and they were sent scrambling into the water and out of the way of the iceberg.
“Opps, should not have eaten breakfast,” Horn quipped on Instagram.
Icebergs are usually formed from freshwater and their weight distribution changes as they melt, causing them to flip.
Fortunately, their boat was nearby and quickly plucked them uninjured out of the water.
Horn kept his sense of humor about the unfortunate episode, quipping to France Bleu, “It’s safer to see ice cubes in your gin and tonic than to see ice cubes falling on your face in the Arctic.”
