Santa Monica, California, a gem on the Pacific coast, offers a quintessential Southern California experience. The city is renowned for its iconic Santa Monica Pier, which features an amusement park, aquarium, and family-friendly dining. A ride on the historic Ferris wheel provides stunning ocean views and a sense of nostalgia.
A moving sight...literally. Hubbard Glacier's recent nickname "the galloping glacier" refers to its rapid movement through Disenchantment Bay in the direction of the Gulf of Alaska. This tidewater glacier is a natural wonder over 6 miles wide! Those on ships are usually able to get within about a half mile of Hubbard Glacier's face.
This beautiful resort town has a little something for everyone! Whether you are into skiing and snowboarding, jet boating, whitewater rafting, bungy jumping, or mountain biking there is no end to the year around adventure sports you can take advantage of. If you love wine, Queenstown lies close to the center of a small wine producing region, including The Two Paddocks vineyard which is owned by actor Sam Neill.
Ambergris Caye, the largest island in Belize, is the country’s premier destination for both relaxation and adventure. Just off its shores lies the Belize Barrier Reef, offering some of the world’s most spectacular snorkeling and diving.
Nestled on the shores of Skjalfandi Bay in northern Iceland, Husavik offers visitors the unique chance to witness humpback whales, minke whales, and even the occasional blue whale in their natural habitat. The town is also home to the Husavik Whale Museum, which provides fascinating insights into the marine life of the region and the history of whaling in Iceland.
Isabella Island is the largest of the Galapagos islands, on the western end of the archipelago. Shaped like a seahorse when viewed from above, Isabella is home to more wild tortoises than any other island, as well as a wide variety of other animal, bird and marine life.
On Isabella's west coast lies Tagus Cove, a natural protected harbor where centuries ago whalers safely spent the night and left their ships' signatures painted on the rocks. Near Elizabeth Bay, Moreno Point is a birdwatcher's delight. Further inland, visitors will find six volcanoes, five of which are still active and two that sit directly on the Equator. At the base of Alcedo Volcano is Urbina Bay, a perfect spot for snorkeling and home to the biggest land iguanas in the Galapagos.
To the north, located at the "mouth" of the island, is Punta Vicente Roca. Although it's a marine-only site (meaning it can only be accessed via dinghy or SCUBA diving), the formation nonetheless draws plenty of visitors eager to see its spectacular sea life - penguins, seahorses, sea turtles, sunfish, and more.