Latvia: Top 10 Travel Destinations

The Latvian Tourism Agency has put together a list of the top 10 travel destinations in Latvia.

A visit to the historical town of Kuldīga features at the top of the list, and rightly so. The Alekšupīte River flows through the town, directly along the walls of many buildings. Kuldīga has been called the Venice of Latvia.  The town centre is home to narrow streets, one-storey houses and has buildings preserved from the 13^th century. Just outside Kuldīga lies Europe’s widest waterfall, the Venta Waterfall, which is over 240m wide. During spring and autumn, spawning fish will try to jump over the waterfall, creating quite a spectacle.

The seaside town of Ventspils offers something a little different. Located on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Ventspils is home to sandy Blue Flag Beaches, making it the perfect place for a swim. The beach is also home to basketball courts and exercise equipment meaning there is something for everyone. The old town offers narrow cobbled streets and quaint buildings, which contrast with the modern architecture. It is easy to get around Ventspils,:Mazbānītis, a small train, runs on a 2km narrow gauge railway which connects popular attractions such as the beach, Seaside Park, Adventure Park and Seaside Open Air Museum. If you’re more historically minded, you’ll love visiting the Castle of the Livonian Order, one of the oldest preserved fortresses in Latvia, located in Ventspils.

If you enjoy exploring the outdoors, Gauja National Park is perfect for you. There are more than 500 historical and cultural monuments located inside the Park, including windmills, churches, stone castles, hill forts and watermills. If you follow one of the Līgatne Nature Trails, you might see some of the native wildlife such as red deer, bears, lynx, owls, wild boars and red foxes. The nearby Līgatne secret underground bunker will delight history enthusiasts; it was built for the Soviet Latvia leaders in the event of a nuclear war.

There’s something to suit all tastes in Latvia.

Click here to read the full list. 

Latvia offers some breathtaking tourism sites

Hawaii: Top attractions for your first trip

How about travelling somewhere new for your holiday?  Try Hawaii!

The 21 hour journey from London to Hawaii is well worth the effort; you’ll be rewarded with beautiful scenery, wonderful weather and friendly locals. The largest island is Hawaii Island, home to eleven of the world’s thirteen climatic zones, ensuring a wide variety of landscapes.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has created a list of attractions perfect for your first trip.

A visit would not be complete without visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Park is home to Kilauea volcano, which has been erupting since 1983 and is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It produces enough lava per day to resurface a 32km road and has added 198 hectares of new land to Hawaii Island since 1994! The chance to witness the primal process of destruction and creation is an opportunity not to be missed.  The Kilauea visitor centre offers talks, the latest eruption updates, maps and the scheduling of guided walks with a ranger.

Travel further east from the Kohala Coast to Waimea, which is full of rolling, green pastures and is home to many ranches, cowboys and cattle. The Kahua ranch offers visitors the chance to experience this unspoilt landscape on horseback or ATV. Waimea is also home to one of the best restaurants on the island, Merriman’s, whose head chef was one of the founding members of Hawaiian cuisine. Hawaiian cuisine is famed worldwide for its fresh, local ingredients and is definitely worth a try.

For those seeking something more relaxing, why not experience the crystal blue waters which surround Hawaii Island? The waters on the Kona side have fantastic visibility and are calm. Honaunau Bay is the perfect place to snorkel and features ‘two steps’ formed from worn out volcanic rock, creating a perfect entry point into pure bliss. The Kona coast is the best place in Hawaii to spot manta rays that have huge wingspans of up to 6 metres and do not have a sting. The best way to see these incredible creatures is a boat tour at night; watching these graceful animals feed is truly an experience of a lifetime.

Hawaii Island also provides fantastic vantage points for viewing the stars. The tallest sea mountain in the world, Maunakea, is home to 13 telescopes representing 11 countries from around the world. Due to minimal light pollution and clear air, the stars are clearly visible with naked eye and light up the night sky. Maunakea also offers some spectacular sunsets and sunrises above the clouds. Guided stargazing tours are available and are the easiest way to experience the natural beauty of the world above.

If you visit Hawaii Island at Easter, you can visit the Merrie Monarch Festival- the world’s largest Hula competition. The motto of the Festival is “Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people”. The Hula dance is unique to Hawaii and is often accompanied by a chant or song. Some Hawaiian hotels offer guests the opportunity to learn this cultural dance; If you’re feeling brave you can show off you hula skills to other guests!

To read the full article, visit http://www.gohawaii.com/uk/big-island/guidebook/first-trip/

Hong Kong's Top Ten Attractions

Fancy going somewhere different this year? How about visiting Hong Kong?

Lying just south of the Tropic of Cancer, Hong Kong has a humid sub-tropical climate. This makes it the perfect location for those seeking a bit of winter warmth; Hong Kong has an average temperature of 16°C in January! Due to Hong Kong’s colonial past and international harbour, English is widely spoken. All public announcements and official signs are bilingual, making it easier to get around! The city is extremely diverse and beautiful; Chinese clan heritage and European colonial history combine to create a city like no other.

Hong Kong’s cuisine is highly acclaimed worldwide. Ditch the New Year’s resolution and sample some of the local delicacies such as Put Chai Ko (a sticky rice pudding), stir-fried rice noodles, sweet and sour pork and mango pudding. International cuisine also has a strong presence in the city, with Chinese, Asian and Western foods on offer. Special diets are also catered for, with many halal and vegetarian restaurants in the city.

A visit to Hong Kong is not complete without doing some shopping. The districts of Causeway Bay and Sheung Wan are well worth a visit. If you prefer the more authentic street markets, Hong Kong caters for you well. You may spot a bargain on Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street), famed for its antiques and silk products. Chun Yeung Street has busy stalls selling fresh produce where you can experience the sights and sounds of a traditional market in full swing.

While Hong Kong is known mainly as an urban city, it is also home to impressive wildlife and ecology too. The best places to see them are in marine parks and nature reserves, where you’ll see the untamed, remote and rugged Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Global Geopark of China contains some spectacular rock formations, showing off the region’s timeless landscape. The Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region is well worth a visit with hexagonal volcanic columns, islands created as a result of super volcanoes, and splendid sea arches that will make you gasp in awe.

A visit to the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple will immerse you in Hong Kong’s culture. The beautiful ornamented buildings are home to three different religions (Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism). The Temple claims to ‘make every wish come true upon request,’ and is a popular tourist and religious site.

Visitors with young families will enjoy going to Hong Kong Disneyland. The Park four main themed lands: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Tommorowland and Fantasyland. The parades are a must see, and there are many rides to keep the whole family entertained. Don’t forget your camera and autograph book!

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has put together a list of the top ten attractions in the city.

Click here to read the full list