Tag Archives: Outdoors

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Top Five Outdoor Activities in Sacramento

Couple cycling in the outdoors

Sacramento enjoys gorgeous weather throughout the year, and there will always be days when it is just too beautiful to stay cooped up inside. From splashing away in the river to taking a bike ride, here are the top five outdoor activities that California’s capital has to offer.

Cycling The American River Trail
The American River Trail stretches for 32 miles, beginning at the heart of downtown Sacramento and ending up at Folsom. While it is just as enjoyable walking this trail, this does mean that you will not get to see all of it, which is why cycling is usually the preferred option, as there is so much scenery that you will not want to miss. If you do not want to cycle on your own, there are many different cycling events that you can sign up for, as well as races if you are feeling especially competitive.

The Sacramento River
There are so many outdoor activities to be found along the Sacramento River, making this a great spot for water-lovers to head to. In the summer months, the water levels are lower, but there are still plenty of stretches that are great for white water rafting, making this one of the most popular river sports. Alternatively, there are many outlets that rent kayaks for the day, or, if you would prefer something more relaxing, you could simply grab a tube and float your way down the river.

Amusement Parks
Sacramento is home to several different amusement parks, and these are always a fun way in which to spend a sunny day. Funderland is one of the most popular, and is designed for children between the ages of 2 to 12, as is Fairytale Town, which features characters and play sets from popular fairytales. If you are seeking out a larger, more thrill-focussed amusement park, you may have to head further afield to the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, which is about a two hour drive from the city center.

Man playing golf outdoors

A Round of Golf
Sacramento boasts several spectacular golf courses, making this a haven for those who enjoy the sport. Each course is quite unique in its own way, such as with Teal Bend, which features 250 acres of natural wetlands and the largest all-grass driving range in the entire city. Dark Horse is a course with quite an innovative layout, while the granite quarry turned lake at Turkey Creek is the focal point of the course. For those who are seeking out a private, rather than public, golf course, head to the Winchester Country Club, where you will be able to enjoy amazing views of Sacramento Valley as you play.

William Land Park
Although William Land Park may be located in the heart of the city, it is easy to forget that you are in Sacramento once you enter its green, expansive grounds. There are so many different outdoor activities that you can try your hand at here, from baseball to the zoo, and there are also several outdoor special events held here throughout the year.

For those who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, you will definitely have fun in Sacramento. Whether you are into adrenaline-filled sports or simply want to lay back and soak up some sun, you will be spoilt for choice with all that the city has to offer.

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Nature, Updated, at the Al Shaheed Park

Park in Kuwait City

Located on the edge of Kuwait City, the Al Shaheed Park is the largest urban park in Kuwait. For those looking to experience nature, history and culture, all in one place, make sure that you include a visit to the park while you are exploring Kuwait.

The History of the Park
The area that the Al Shaheed Park is in was originally created in 1964, with the aim of it being a formal Green Belt Park. As this grew into a garden, the area experienced quite a bit of renovation and development over the years, after which it was turned into the Al Shaheed Park, along with the aim of commemorating the country’s martyrs.

The Park’s Museums
The Al-Shaheed Park is home to two museums, both of which are worth touring if you are already going to be visiting the park anyway. The first is the Thekra Museum, which is a memorial museum that educates visitors on Kuwait’s history, including the battles that the country experienced, as well as the Gulf War. The second museum is the Habitat Museum, which is an environmental museum that aims to preserve and showcase the local environment and wildlife of Kuwait. This museum is quite a new one, as it was only inaugurated at the beginning of this year, but already has a wide array of geographical and environmental exhibits.

Historical Highlights of the Al Shaheed Park
There are a number of historical monuments dotted around Al Shaheed Park, which you will see as you make your way around the grounds. From the old city gates, which are in the exact same place that they were when they were first put up in the late 1800’s, to the Constitution Monument and the Martyrs Monument, you can learn so much about Kuwait’s history simply by taking a stroll around the Al Shaheed Park.

The Underground Tunnel
Lying beneath the Al Shaheed Park is a long underground tunnel, which was built in order to connect Kuwait’s green belt. This tunnel has now been completely renovated, and features a number of pieces of art, as well as three-dimensional Portuguese tiles that light up the passageway in vibrant shades of blue and green.

Other Facilities at the Park
In addition to the museums and historical monuments, there are plenty of other things to do at the Al Shaheed Park. The open-air amphitheater is where you can catch a number of live performances and special events, while the gift shop and book shop are always fun to explore, especially if you are looking for a unique souvenir to take home with you. Of course, be sure to stop off at one of the park’s restaurants or cafés if you are looking for a bite to eat, as they serve up tasty local food.

The Al Shaheed Park sprawls out for almost 20 hectares, and just about every area within it has been recently refurbished and updated. While the hustle and bustle of Kuwait City is always exciting, there will come a time when you need some tranquillity, making the Al Shaheed Park the perfect escape to head to.

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Get Outdoors Festival

Held on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th of August this year, Ontario’s Get Outdoors Festival takes place at Wye Marsh, the largest wetlands in Ontario. From interactive workshops to wildlife identification sessions, this festival is a way to experience the best of what the great outdoors has to offer.

Guided Canoe and Kayak Tours
Wye Marsh is home to a large amount of wildlife, from the Midland Painted Turtles to the River Otters to the Trumpeter Swans, and taking a ride out onto the water is one of the best ways to experience all of this. These guided tours take place on voyageur canoes, with each one led by a Wye Marsh naturalist.

Cycling

Cycling
With over 25km of cycle trails, renting a bike is a great way to explore Wye Marsh. The festival will have bikes available for rent, although if you do not feel like biking, you can easily walk the trails too. One of the highlights of the trails is the 490-foot floating boardwalk, which takes you out over the water and rewards you with a stunning panoramic view.

Live Animal Demonstrations
While it is always exciting to view wildlife in their natural habitat, experiencing them close-up will help you to learn so much more about them. This is the aim of the live animal demonstrations at the Get Outdoors Festival, where guests will be able to meet animals such as the snapping turtle, fox snake and red-tailed hawk, learning about these unique creatures and the role they play in our ecosystem. The Wye Marsh bee-keeper will also be putting on a talk and demonstration each day of the event, showcasing his gorgeous honeybees and explaining exactly why they are so vital to life on this planet.

Bird watching

Basics of Birding
At the festival, a Wye Marsh naturalist will be on hand to teach visitors the basics of birding. From discovering how to recognize the different bird calls that are constantly sung around Wye Marsh, to learning about the natural environments of these specific birds, these sessions are always a big hit with both adults and children.

Paddle Carving Seminar
New to the festival this year is the Paddle Carving Seminar, which will be held by Roger Foster, who is an instructor at the Carlisle Canoe Co. Visitors will learn all about how to use a century-old tool to carve a paddle from a solid piece of local wood, and are guaranteed to leave the seminar with a beautifully finished paddle, as well as skills that they will be able to carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The Get Outdoors Festival aims to provide people with a new way in which to experience the outdoors, showing them the many different benefits that spending time in nature can have. With the average North American spending 95% of their day indoors, the Get Outdoors Festival is something that everybody should embrace, as you will be able to discover new passions that will encourage you to spend plenty more time outdoors in the future.

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Luxurious and Kid Friendly

Kids in a swimming pool

When traveling with children, it can often be difficult finding accommodation that is not only kid friendly, but also luxurious enough to guarantee that the adults will also feel pampered. From an upscale private ranch near the Yellowstone National Park, to an outdoor wonderland in Florida that promises to beat the thrills of Disneyland, these spots are all ideal for those seeking a high-end, yet child-friendly, vacation.

Lone Mountain Ranch, Montana
Yellowstone National Park is the perfect destination for a family vacation, as there is so much to see and do, from taking in the wildlife to hiking through some of the 900 miles of hiking trails that criss-cross around the park. While many families may choose to rough it when it comes to camping, this does not need to be the case, as the Lone Mountain Ranch can be found just outside of the park. This 160-acre private ranch offers a range of luxury cabins, each with their own private deck, giving families plenty of room to relax. The ranch offers guided excursions into the park, as well as plenty of other activities, from horseback riding to fishing on the high alpine lakes.

Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Florida
Disneyland is always going to be one of Orlando’s biggest draws for children, but if you want to offer them an experience that is quite different, check out the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, a high-end spa resort that is set within 500 acres of the Florida Everglades. The rooms and suites, with their balconies, marble bathrooms and soaking tubs, are all exquisitely elegant, while the resort’s facilities, from their eleven restaurants to their three outdoor pools, ensure that there is plenty to do if you do not want to venture too far. The new interactive kids club is a great way to immerse your children in the great outdoors of Florida, while the kayak eco-tours, and fishing excursions, will teach them about the diversity of nature that can be found here.

Monarch Beach Resort, California
Located in Southern California, the Monarch Beach Resort has recently undergone a renovation that cost $40 million, and now boasts a truly impressive set of facilities and services. The guest rooms and suites, decorated in a soothing coastal palette, all feature private balconies and plush living areas, giving families enough room for some space of their own. This is also Miraval Spa’s first coastal location, and, in addition to the range of treatments that they offer up for adults, they also provide meditation and yoga for kids. The gorgeous private beach is another advantage to this resort, where children can enjoy a surfing lesson while parents relax on the sand and soak up the sun, perhaps with some food and drink delivered directly to their lounge chairs from the resort’s Monarch Bay Club.

Summer is the ideal time to jet off on a family vacation, and with each of these destinations situated within the country, it means that you will not have too far to travel. From the mountains of Montana to the beaches of California, each of these hotels and resorts promises a stay that both adults and children will truly love.