Ride on quad bikes from the bush to the beach, traversing magnificent sand dunes and learning about Aboriginal culture in the Worimi Conservation Lands, north of Sydney. With Sand Dune Adventures, riding a 400cc bike, you’ll be in awe of the area’s natural beauty.
Expert Aboriginal guides will lead you through the Southern Hemisphere’s largest moving coastal sand dunes, some rising more than 30 metres. You’ll learn about traditional Aboriginal foods, or bush tucker, and how to find fresh water.
Sand Dune Adventures is owned and operated by the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council. Novice quad bike riders are welcome. You’ll be given instructions on how to ride a quad bike before touring the Stockton Beach sand dunes on the North Coast of NSW, Australia.
Tours are Monday to Sunday, from 8am to 5pm. From Sydney, the drive Sand Dune Adventures in Williamtown, Port Stephens, is 2 h 30 min. You can travel by train from Sydney to Newcastle, where you can take a bus for Williamtown.
Friday 08 February 2019 to Saturday 08 February 2020
Overview
Come and enjoy the Tenterfield Show. There is so much to see and do.
There are bar and barbecue facilities are available, and a band and rodeo on Saturday night. Enjoy the sheep dog trials, the dog show and Tenterfield Pony Club Sporting Day.
There is great food at side show alley, or have some retail therapy. There are lots of rides for all ages including the Hurricane, Dodgems, Cha Cha, Skyflyer, Rockwall, Mini Jeeps, Cup n Saucer, Giant Slide, Pirate Ship, Circus Castle, Giant Worm, and Ball Crawl Elephant Castle.
Don’t miss the Pavilion with the prize winning cakes, jams, and produce. Stand in awe and admire what the local talent have done with their paintings and photos. Marvel at the beautiful needle work and knitting that would have taken hours of work.
There is something for everyone at the Tenterfield Show.
He’s a national legend ( I Still Call Australia Home ), a global phenomenon in his day, and flamboyant!
Peter Allen’s connection to Tenterfield was immortalised in his song Tenterfield Saddler, reflecting on childhood visits to his grandfather in Tenterfield.
The second Peter Allen Festival is full of events for families, music-lovers, foodies and, of course, Peter Allen fans.
Highlights for music lovers include the award-winning cabaret show Livvy and Pete: The Songs of Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen, jam sessions, and award-winning musicians playing in the park.
Family-friendly free events include a Kids’ Corner, a pop-up outdoor cinema showing of The Greatest Showman, and the Peter Allen Boulevard street party.
Foodies will love the Tenterfield Food and Wine Fair, the Jackaroo’s Breakfast on a farm, Honest Through Her Song featuring incredible female vocalists and musicians with a meal showcasing Tenterfield’s finest produce, and a Picnic at Glenrock.
Dress up fans will have a blast at the L.A. Garden Party dressed as their favourite 70s or 80s Hollywood celebrity or musical icon and enjoying a 70s inspired lunch.
The Buildcorp Wallaroos are set to play a two-Test series against Japan this July, with the first match being played at No.2 Sportsground in Newcastle.
This will be the first time the Wallaroos have played a standalone Test on home soil in over 10 years, giving fans the chance to show their support and get behind the national women’s Rugby team.
With an action-packed precinct, and two curtain-raiser games to be played before the Test match, it’s set to be a full, family-friendly afternoon of high-quality entertainment both on and off the pitch.
Tickets on sale on Ticketek from Thursday 18 April.
Street Eats opens the doors to unique street food fare across Maitland.
Winter is here, but Street Eats will warm your belly. Join them for one of the Get Togethers below where there will be a a mix of trucks and flavours to sample in some of the best places around town. Bring the family or catch up with friends with a picnic and a bite to eat.
Check out the winter Street Eats schedule or keep up to date with more information via My Maitland Facebook and Instagram.
Sri Lanka Tourism Guide – The pearl shaped island is a paradise for any tourist and it is quite a smart idea for you to make it your honeymoon destination. The blend of Buddhist culture and the exotic beaches in the island make it a perfect destination for anyone. There are various Sri Lanka tour packages that are available for the visitors from India and you can make a check upon the same to find the one that suits you the most.
These packages allow you to have a visit to almost all the top destinations across Sri Lanka. There is also an option for you to design the tour package as per your choice. You can put in the destinations that you want to visit while planning a tour to the island country. These Sri Lanka holiday packages can help you with all the popular sites in the country that you shall visit. You will get to visit the biological diversity of the Sri Lanka in the best manner.
You can have a look at the beautiful flora and fauna of the island that make it such an awesome paradise for everyone. At the same time, they also take full care of your comfort and luxury while you are on a tour to Sri Lanka. You must keep checking on all the updates on the internet about the packages so that you are able to steal the best deal on the internet. Sri Lanka tourism is paying special attention towards the biodiversity tours in Sri Lanka and it is a great visit for you when you are a biodiversity lover.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka – This is one of the most important things that you shall have in mind before planning your trip to Sri Lanka. If you are not going for the holidays at right juncture of time, you will not be able to make the most of your tour. The best time to have a visit to the southern and western coasts of the island is from December to March. The weather is cool and friendly during this period of time and thus you can opt for the best tour packages for Sri Lanka during this period.
Places to visit in Sri Lanka – This is one of the most important things that you need to decide before you get to plan your trip to Sri Lanka. You must know about the best places to visit in Sri Lanka while planning your tour and you can get the information about the same on the internet. There are many beautiful destinations across the Sri Lanka where you can have some awesome time with your family and friends.
Here is a look at some of the top destinations across Sri Lanka that you must get to visit while coming to the Iceland country of Sri Lanka –
● Colombo – The capital of Sri Lanka is probably the best place to visit there as well and is always crowded with tourists from different countries. The architecture of the city resembles Dutch heritage showing that it was a Dutch colony in the past.
The city is full of towering buildings and shopping malls where you can buy some cool stuff for yourself. One place where you can get to know about the history of Sri Lanka is Colombo National Museum where various ancient heritage items are available for the visitors to see. You can check upon the cheapest Sri Lanka tour packages in order to explore the city of Colombo without having to shell a great amount of money. Some of the other popular tourist places across Colombo include Premdasa Stadium, giant Buddha Statue, and Wolvendall Church amongst various others. So, come to the Colombo city and discover a rich heritage.
● Sigiriya – Although not as popular as the Colombo city, Sigiriya is one of the most popular places which is a part of Sri Lanka holiday packages and gives you a chance to explore the soul of the country. The place contains the ruins and remains of the 5th century city and gives you a glimpse of the culture that existed over there. The rock fortress is a towering presence and is easily accessible by the stairs that are there.
● Kandy – If you want to explore the beauty and biodiversity of Sri Lanka in the most awesome manner, then a visit to Kandy must be in your travel plans. You will get to visit the tea plantations and plateaus across the city that will keep you spell bound and mesmerized. The city is also famous for the Buddhist sites and you can get to travel Temple of the tooth shrine which is a part of different Sri Lanka tour packages.
Another place in Kandy that catches the attention of the visitors is Royal Botanic garden. It is known for the orchid plantation and is a sight to behold for each and every one of you. You can also get to visit Ceylon tea museum where you can explore varied varieties of the tea plantations thus helping you to enhance your knowledge.
● Galle – The coastal city of Sri Lanka is another very popular site for the visitors and is highly famous for the Galle fort. It is always a nice way to make a visit to the Galle as the beaches over here are quite exotic for you. When you make Galle a part of your tour, it makes your tour packages amongst the best tour packages for Sri Lanka. It will also give you a glimpse of the Dutch culture as it was amongst one of the best Dutch colonies in Indian Subcontinent. The Galle museum gives you a peep into some of the best artifact of the city. Galle stadium situated on the northern end of the city is another place for you to visit especially when there is a nigh T20 match that is going on in the stadium as the atmosphere is electric atmosphere.
How to reach the Iceland of Sri Lanka?
This is one of the common questions that you have in mind when you are planning to make a visit to the island of Sri Lanka. You always have a question about how to reach Sri Lanka with ease and comfort. You have two options when you are planning to travel to Sri Lanka from India. Here are the best two options that you have when you are looking to visit Sri Lanka from India –
● By air – The easiest and the simplest way to reach Sri Lanka from India are via airways. There are direct flights that are available from the top cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. You can reach Colombo from Chennai within two hours which makes it a very smart option for the travelers.
● By sea – This is another option when you are looking to travel to Sri Lanka from India. It is more exciting and soothing than the air transfer. Although, it also takes more time to reach via waterways. There are ferry services that are available from Chennai to Colombo at affordable rates. It is quite an exciting journey and you must go by water means only when you have sufficient time in hand.
Best things to do in Sri Lanka – This is another question that you have in mind while planning your tour to any country. You want to make sure that you have several exciting activities that you can do while you are on a tour to Sri Lanka –
● One of the top things that you can do while on a tour to Sri Lanka is going for the blue whale watching tour. It is available to you at a price of 5000 making things interesting for you.
● Another thing that you can get to do while on a tour to Sri Lanka is going for the wild life safaris. These safaris will help you to explore variety of fauna that you may have never seen all your life.
● Another thing that you shall get to do is making a visit to the famous temples across the Sri Lanka. There are many Buddhist temples across Sri Lanka that is highly regarded by the people and you must visit them when you are in Sri Lanka.
● Staying at the beach is another activity that you can get to do while on a tour to Sri Lanka. Especially when you are on your honeymoon tour, this is one thing that you must do to enhance your love and pleasure. Most of the Sri Lanka packages for honeymoon include beach stays as a part of them and thus you can easily enjoy them when you select your packages smartly.
● You must also visit cultural places across the Sri Lanka as it is one of the Buddhist cultural hubs. You can get to learn a lot about the origin and expansion of Buddhism when you make a visit to these cultural hubs that are spread across the island of Sri Lanka.
Hand-painted ceramics, lanterns, intricately patterned carpets, copperware, gold Byzantine-style jewelry, and more eye-catching products vie for your attention within
’s vaulted walkways. It has since expanded and become increasingly touristy, but locals, too, are among the millions of bargain hunters. To haggle like a pro, lowball your starting offer and don’t be afraid to walk away. And if it all gets overwhelming, break for a succulent doner kebab or strong cup of Turkish coffee.
thrums with activity. It hosts military parades, cultural and political events, concerts, exhibitions, fairs, and public art installations. Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace flank this historic public square, and an imposing Mexican flag, raised and lowered daily, waves over the scene.
for the flashing lights, Broadway shows, megastores, and sheer spectacle—including costumed characters eager to pose for photo ops. Pedestrian-only areas with café tables introduced a few years ago have made it easier and more appealing to hang out here. Times Square can even be a convenient, if chaotic, base, thanks to hotels at every price point and easy access to public transportation: subways, rails, buses, and more yellow taxis than you can count.
New York has larger green spaces, but none is more famous than
, which stretches across nearly 850 acres of prime Manhattan real estate—an oasis for both tourists and locals. You can ride in one of the horse-drawn carriages, check out the modest-size zoo, climb to the top of 19th-century Belvedere Castle, or take a break from pounding the pavement to sprawl on the Great Lawn, gazing at the skyscrapers above.
shuttles some 12,500 passengers daily in and out of the city. But it also handles millions of tourists who pass through to take in the impeccably mixed architectural styles throughout the colossal building: from Classical to Beaux-Arts to Baroque. More than 70 retail outlets make Union Station a shopping destination, and it’s also a jumping-off point for many D.C. tours.
In 2013, 77 percent of Vegas tourists—30.5 million—chose to stay at hotels right on the four-mile-long Strip. And why not? Roll out of bed and onto the Strip to catch the Bellagio fountains in action, shop, gamble, and, of course, people-watch (which can get especially fun later at night). For a cool new vantage point, hop aboard the
, a 550-foot-tall Ferris wheel that debuted in March 2014. It’s part of Linq, a flashy 300,000-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex by Caesars.
Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Built more than 100 years ago to honor the divine souls of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken,
in bustling Tokyo is a peaceful haven surrounded by a holy forest of more than 100,000 trees. Seasonal gardens feature spring azaleas, summer irises, brilliant autumn leaves on Japanese maples and ginkgos, and black pines dusted with winter snow.
Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
was dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon, the most compassionate Buddha, in 628. Dramatic nighttime illumination highlights vermilion and crimson detailing in the Five-Storied Pagoda. Continuing centuries-long tradition, stalls along the temple’s Nakamise Street sell food and goods to pilgrims, whose numbers swell around New Year’s.
Source: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
Straddling the border of the U.S. and Canada, three massive waterfalls, together called
, spill about 6 million cubic feet of water—from a maximum vertical drop of 165 feet—every minute. While there are about 500 taller waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is spectacular for its sheer power. It’s also more accessible than many major falls, a short flight or drive for millions of regional tourists.
Unlike harried commuters, visitors take their time in the main concourse of this
, pausing to view its glittering ceiling painted with a map of the constellations from the night sky. Shops, an annual holiday market, special events, and restaurants also attract attention. Two of the grandest venues are the , serving craft cocktails, and the historic
—featured on AMC’s Mad Men—which shucks 2 million fresh bivalves a year.
Source: Grand Central Terminal
No. 11 Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City
, begun in the 16th century and completed in 1709, stands in stark contrast to the massive new basilica, designed by the Mexican architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, which was built in the mid-1970s and looks like a sports arena. It is, in fact, intended to hold 50,000 people, who come for mass—celebrated several times a day—and to see an image of the Virgin Mary that is said to have appeared on an apron in 1531.
is high on virtually every family’s to-do list and remains the most-visited theme park on the earth. Expanded Fantasyland now includes the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train family-style roller coaster and a chance to meet Anna and Elsa from the smash-hit Frozen in the Princess Fairytale Hall near Cinderella Castle. Time-tested attractions include the Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain, the daily Disney character parade down Main Street, USA, and a fireworks spectacular that lights up the sky many nights.
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
(“the Cradle of Liberty”) once hosted speeches by such greats as Samuel Adams and George Washington. Today, the downtown marketplace has more than 100 specialty shops and eateries and occupies a pedestrian-only, cobblestoned area that swarms with tourists and street performers. Each winter, Faneuil Hall also hosts Boston’s tallest Christmas tree, along with festive light displays and choirs.
has become the second most-visited theme park in the world (beating out Anaheim, CA’s Disneyland, which held that title in 2010). It shares the sweetness of the original parks’ Fantasyland with Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo the Flying Elephant as well as Tomorrowland’s Space Mountain and Star Tours—The Adventures Continue. A musical soundtrack and other renovations have improved the Adventureland classic: Jungle Cruise Wildlife Expedition, while a new after-dark night cruise promises more surprises.
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
, which occupies about 85 acres of land, has retro charm and some better features. Here the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction lasts almost twice as long and ends in a humid southern bayou with fireflies (instead of a gift shop). The Indiana Jones Adventure ride careens over lava, past swarms of beetles, and under that 16-foot rolling boulder. Thrill-seekers will also appreciate that the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has reopened.
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
It doesn’t have a street address—which is only fitting for a place that was once considered the center of the universe. Nowadays, tourists swarm this
of opulent halls, gardens, and winged pavilions. Attendance is up by 2.5 million since 2010. It can easily take half a day to explore the grounds, and history buffs will appreciate the self-guided audio tour—or a hired guide.
Source: Forbidden City Palace Museum and China Odyssey Tours
No. 17 Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco
Beaches, cliffs, hills, forts, and towering redwood trees make up the
, easily accessible from San Francisco. Many visitors come to embrace the outdoors, whether hiking, biking, swimming, birding, riding horses, or whale-watching. But this scenic area is also rich in history and includes landmarks like prison and the Presidio, an 18th-century military post. You can even base yourself within the recreation area;
’s rooms and suites occupy restored turn-of-the-20th-century Colonial Revival buildings that overlook San Francisco Bay.
, the companion park to Tokyo Disneyland overlooking Tokyo Bay, took inspiration from aquatic myths, legends and the lore of the sea. Divided into seven “ports of call,” the park emphasizes water attractions with Venetian gondolas, a Mermaid Lagoon, a journey to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and an Aquatopia with quirky boats in a sea of rocks, whirlpools and water spouts. But it’s not all fountains and bubbles—the park also has scary rides like the Tower of Terror, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull.
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture—all soaring buttresses, crouching gargoyles, and magnificent rose windows—
has survived attacks of Huguenots, sansculottes, occupying armies, and questionable renovations since its completion in 1345. In spite of its often violent past, visitors flock to the cathedral for the hushed peace and reflection it provides, even in the midst of Paris.
Source: Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency
Cascading three miles from the Panhandle down to the Pacific,
serves as playground and haven for this diverse city. The park’s offerings include museums (the de Young Museum and the Academy of Sciences), botanical wonders (the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, a rhododendron forest, and more than 75,000 trees, among others), sporting fields and courts, playgrounds, and even a small herd of buffalo.
Source: San Francisco Recreation & Park Department
’s 1,200 acres form a mini-city with 15 accredited museums, 19 gardens, nine performing arts groups, a miniature railroad, a golf course, tennis courts, lawn bowling, a gymnasium, a historic carousel, and a Super Sonic Samba School. Not to mention the world-famous , with three crowd-pleasing giant pandas. Balboa Park also features the Spreckels Organ, whose 4,518 pipes range from the size of a pencil to 32 feet tall.
in lower Manhattan dates back to the 1600s, and its cobblestoned streets are packed with shops and restaurants. Pier 17 will reopen in 2016 after undergoing extensive renovation. Commercialism aside, the history runs deep here and is perhaps best experienced on one of the two 1800s tall-masted schooners the South Street Seaport Museum maintains. Go for a sunset sail with Gotham as a backdrop.
Source: The Howard Hughes Corporation
No. 24 Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Built to honor the late Walt Disney’s utopian ideal of the innovative future (the name is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow),
attracts guests who skew a little older than those of its neighbor, the Magic Kingdom. Restaurants are aimed at more sophisticated palates, and annual celebrations include a flower and garden show and an international food and wine festival. Perennial favorite rides like Soarin’, Mission: SPACE, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends keep the kids and kids-at-heart happy. Expect visits to the Norway pavilion to spike when a Frozen-themed ride debuts in 2016.
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
teems with ornate gold, marble columns, paintings of angels, iconic statues, and works created by a who’s who of Renaissance artists, including Raphael, Brunelleschi, Bernini, and Michelangelo, who sculpted the marble Pietà and designed the massive dome. For a nominal fee, you can climb 320 steps to the top and soak up the most famous panorama of Rome.
Annual Visitors: 10,720,000 (Badaling and Mutianyu areas combined)
Once used as a wartime defense, the
winds “like a dragon tail” from eastern China to western, spanning some 5,500 miles. While much of what is visible today was built during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), construction began on various sections as far back as 770 B.C. Credit goes to the million slaves and prisoners of war who carried blocks of granite, bricks, stones, and dirt on their backs up to the top of the ridgelines. The Badaling section, closest to Beijing, draws the
. Word has gotten out, inspiring some travelers to make the longer drive to the more serene Mutianyu section.
Source: National Tourism Administration of the People’s Republic of China and China Odyssey Tours
lures visitors to the summit of Montmartre for a litany of reasons—while some come to pray and meditate, most come for the remarkable 360-degree views of the City of Light from its highest vantage point. The construction of the basilica, which started in 1871, was intended to restore peace to a site stained by violence during the Paris Commune.
Source: Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency
opened in 1992, many French protested the “cultural imperialism” of such an American symbol opening 40 minutes outside of Paris. Today it’s one of the most-visited locations in Europe. So be prepared to queue for popular rides like It’s a Small World, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast. A 3D ride inspired by the film Ratatouille opened in 2014; enter through a replica of Gusteau’s restaurant.
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
No. 29 Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL
has successfully marketed Mickey Mouse and silverback gorillas under one all-inclusive “roof.” If it has four legs or wings or a tail, chances are you’ll find it at this zoo/museum/school theme park. Don’t miss the Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, or the 14-story Tree of Life sculpture carved with some 325 animals. Fun fact: at one point park creators also wanted to include a section for mythological creatures called “Beastly Kingdom.”
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
No. 30 Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL
.” Laid out much like a real-life motion picture studio, with a 154-acre network of streets and buildings and miniature replicas of famous landmarks, it showcases the golden age of film. But most kids make a beeline to Toy Story Midway Mania! at Pixar Place and Star Tours—The Adventures Continue.
Source: TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report
How Portugal Became the Greatest Place to Eat Right Now
The best restaurant in Lisbon is not actually in Lisbon.It’s on the other side of the Tagus River in Cacilhas, a tiny port neighborhood you take a ferry to get to that is home to some abandoned factories and adorable feral cats who enjoy uninterrupted views of Lisbon’s very spectacular hills. There are tourists here but far fewer of them. And very few are at the best restaurant, which is a bodega-type café where a guy in a Corona hat who doesn’t speak English will ask you, “Sardinhas?” to which you will respond yes. And he will spend the next 20 minutes seasoning ten plump sardines with a wet chunky salt, grilling the sardines on a small charcoal grill on the sidewalk, asking other passersby the all-important question (“Sardinhas?”), until he disappears with the sardines inside the best restaurant in Lisbon that’s not quite in Lisbon. After several minutes he will return with a platter of grilled sardines topped with a few slices of boiled waxy potatoes, a salad of lettuce, onions, and what appear to be unripe tomatoes and which are in fact delicious and dressed with lemon and salt, and a beer if you were smart enough to ask for one, and it is amazing. There are much prettier places to eat grilled sardines in Lisbon; there are even much prettier places to eat grilled sardines right here in Cacilhas. But this place, with A Petisqueira (“The Snackery” or maybe “The Snack Shop”?) on its awning, is the best because I found it and I loved it.
Looking over the city Photo by travelomamaI came to Lisbon to see if I could get to the heart of why this city is the new “It” destination and why Portuguese is the new “It” cuisine that’s having such a big Moment on the world’s culinary stage. I should take this opportunity to make clear that I had no idea that Portuguese food had suddenly become so cool because I have a 20-month-old baby and I have stopped caring about most things that sound like that last sentence. But I assured the editors at this magazine that I could handle the assignment and now it’s too late for them to do anything about it. I dragged my wife, Katherine, along and we ditched our baby with the grandparents to give it our best shot.
But we’re not even in Lisbon, and the guy in the Corona hat has no idea that he is the chef at the best restaurant in the city, let alone the restaurant at the epicenter of one of the most exciting food trends, because his restaurant is totally unremarkable in Lisbon. I’ll bet that if somebody told him, “Hey, an American magazine says this is the best restaurant in Lisbon!” he would probably call to his wife who works the register and is always busting his balls about how they’ll pay rent, or how they’ll keep their daughter from marrying Carlinhos the Uber driver who has no interest in working at the store, and he’ll sit down in a chair next to the grill and say, “Do you hear that? The best!” Only he’ll say it in Portuguese and then he’ll take off his Corona hat to wipe his brow, flip the rack that is holding ten plump sardines for his buddies that came in for lunch, and get on with his day.lunch, and get on with his day.
If Portugal had a national sandwich, it would be the bifana: thin slices of griddled pork on a squishy bun.Lisbon is full of tiny cobblestone streets that open up to the occasional grand boulevard or ridiculously beautiful panoramic view of the river, and it might be any old European city, but Lisbon has way more graffiti, and the seafood is plentiful, and sometimes people smoke cigarettes in nice restaurants, and instead of Vespas there are tuk tuks (basically motorcycles with minivans on the back, like vehicular mullets, possibly even worse than Vespas). And I loved it. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that if many people in Lisbon are thrilled that literal exponential increases in tourists have done something good for the hospitality industry, there are just as many watching their beloved Lisbon get spruced up and sanitized at the expense of the people who actually live there. It doesn’t take long wandering around Alfama, one of Lisbon’s oldest neighborhoods, and seeing a few of the tags that say “Tourists Suck,” or some less elegant suggestions for what Airbnb should do, scrawled on the walls of adorable alleys to understand that being trendy can take a toll.But you need to walk only a little farther down that adorable alley, past all the oblivious visitors, to find an old lady sitting in a doorway selling shots of ginjinha, a sweet liqueur made from sour cherries, as if to say, “Help yourself, you are my grandson now and I love you,” to feel welcome and a little drunk and like you are exactly where you need to be at that moment. Or get a beer and petisco (which is a category of snack, often fried, cured, involving seafood, or a combination of those three things) while staring up at a castle and try to figure out how not to go back to New York City.
We hadn’t come up with an answer before we got hungry again, so we went to Cantinho do Aziz. The chef and co-owner, Jeny Sulemange, is from Mozambique, and her tiny restaurant in the Mouraria neighborhood serves food that is influenced by a few of the countries that were colonized by the Portuguese Empire. And while it’s tempting to act like a food writer and suggest I know exactly the historical gastronomic path that brought palm oil and green plantains into the sensational shrimp stew called miamba wa macua, that would be reductive. But start a meal here with makorro, a chutney-like spread of mashed onions and cilantro, and a Kingfisher beer, and everything will start to make sense, and actually, maybe this is the best restaurant in Lisbon. Though I don’t think this is the food that Bon Appétit was talking about when they asked for this article, not because it isn’t amazing, but because even I would have noticed if Mozambican-Goan-influenced Portuguese food was having a Moment since that would frankly be one of the coolest things ever.
Clams with garlic sauce at Cervejaria RamiroA lot of people would tell you that the best restaurant in Lisbon is Cervejaria Ramiro. It’s like the Peter Luger of seafood restaurants, which is to say that it is touristy, boasts a menu of extremely simple seafood preparations, and is undeniably amazing. You are invited to get drunk while you wait a long time to be seated, and then once it’s your turn, you are hustled into a very brightly lit room with long communal tables where a waiter seems surprised that you don’t know what you want to eat, and then you are brought what look like cartoon versions of the most beautiful crustaceans and mollusks you’ve ever eaten in your life: tiny shrimp sizzling in a ton of olive oil with garlic threatening to get too dark; enormous shrimp, full of bright red meat; clams, clams, clams; and rock lobsters, like in the B-52s song! We ordered a boiled lobster, and it came to the table split open, steaming hot, and with a bottle of mayonnaise that tasted more exciting than mayonnaise. A rock lobster’s tail is full of meat, and there is a middle section about two inches long that is also full of meat, and the head has some guts and a lot more meat. It’s like a lobster but with extra lobster in it! This is the kind of seafood excitement that happens at Ramiro.
Oman is one of the most naturally and culturally diverse countries in the Middle East. Still not a very popular Middle Eastern destination among the tourists, Oman is gradually making its mark on the world tourism map. There are a lot of different things to do in Oman as the country is home to a long stretch of a 3000 km coastline, the highest peak in the Arabian Peninsula, and the centuries-old history of the Frankincense civilization.
Hence the best way to explore the natural beauty and tradition of Oman is embarking on a road trip adventure across the country. Moreover, the roads of Oman are considered some of the best in the world, so driving around would not be a bad idea to explore Oman at all.
Getting started in Muscat
The capital port city of Muscat is an urbanized city with touches of Arabian heritage as well as the country’s main culture and arts hub. Unlike its more famous neighbor Dubai, the skyline of Muscat does not have a single skyscraper.
The city is considered to be laid-back yet modern while sticking to its Bedouin values and Arabic heritage and culture.
Almost all of the travelers coming to Oman start off their journey from Muscat. Though there is so much natural beauty, beaches, and parks to be visited in Muscat before that, you should definitely visit the major monuments of the city to learn more about the Arabian architecture and Islamic values of Oman.
Sultan Qaboos Mosque
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was named after the ruling king of Oman, and it is the biggest and the most lavish mosque in the country. Made up with white marbles, the mosque is located right in the heart of the city.
In the main praying hall in the mosque hangs the world’s largest chandelier, which is fourteen meters long. There are smaller chandeliers hung all across the mosque, and it is surrounded by five minarets that guard the building’s main dome.
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is also the only mosque in the country open for people from all nationalities to visit and experience the beauty of Arabian architecture.
*Note: The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is open for people from all religions, except Friday afternoon when the Friday prayers are conducted. Women should cover their head and wear clothes covering their body from shoulders to knees to enter the mosque. Men should wear full-length sleeves and trousers.
Royal Opera House Muscat
The Royal Opera House of Muscat is a marvelous white complex with gardens and auditoriums for different arts and culture-related events. The venue is used for local as well as international cultural events.
Visitors are welcome even if they are not attending any show in the opera house. The entire space speaks for Arabesque architecture from every corner of the complex.
On special occasions such as Eid or the National Day of Oman, free laser light shows are conducted at the Royal Opera house Muscat. It is also a great spot for photographing during the golden hour as it gets even more picturesque when the sun goes down.
Looking to spend your summer vacation in Croatia, this beautiful Mediterranean country? It’s certainly a great choice because there are plenty of beautiful beaches you can enjoy on its coast, the Adriatic Sea is absolutely pristine and the food (and the wine) is excellent. However, many tourists, especially younger ones, will also look for places that offer some good quality fun.
Fortunately, the whole country is brimming with various festivals and events you can visit in summer and which guarantee you will have one heck of a time.
People from all over Europe (and beyond) attend these things, hang out with each other, meet new friends and create memories that will last them a lifetime.
If you’re interested in something like that, here’s a list of the best music festivals in Croatia with some info on each of them.
1. INmusic Festival
We start things off in Croatia’s capital city of Zagreb. While it is not located on the coast, the city boasts a big lake (Jarun), which is the venue for INmusic Festival.
The festival usually takes place at the end of June (this year it’s scheduled to last from June 24 to June 26) and hosts a whole array of quite famous artists. For example, The Cure will appear there this summer, backed by LP, Foals, Garbage, Skindred and many more.
In other words, there should be something for everyone here. About 30,000 people attend this event every year, and another big plus is that a big campsite is always set up for the visitors, so up to 4000 people can truly enjoy that unique festival vibe.
This open-air festival began its journey in 2006 and is still going strong, and just to give you an idea of the level of quality you can expect, we will say that it was named one of top 20 summer festivals in Europe by The Times and one of the best 50 in the world by CNN. Come and see why!
2. Love International Festival
Moving on to the coast. The small town of Tisno is located near Šibenik and over the last few years has become well known for Love International Festival.
This event will take place from July 3 to July 10 this year, so you have one full week of good house/electronic music ahead of you. Beautiful Swimmers, A Love From Outer Space, DJ Harvey, Joy Orbison, and many others will perform, plus there are boat parties and parties at the nearby Barbarella’s discotheque you can also attend as a part of this festival.
Be aware that the tickets for these latter two things have to be bought separately. With beautiful nature all around you, it’s a great way to enjoy some quality time with your significant other.
After all, this is a LOVE festival.
3. Ultra Europe
Now, this is probably the biggest party in Croatia and beyond.
Ultra Europe is a spin-off of the famous Ultra Music Festival in Miami, but this event in Split certainly doesn’t lag behind the original. It takes place at the city stadium (yes, a stadium!), where tens of thousands of people from all over the world enjoy the very best electronic dance music has to offer these days. Think of the names like Carl Cox, Afrojack, David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, Armin van Buren, Nicky Romero… that kind of class.
The main event will take place from July 12 to July 14, but there will be a whole lot of parties before and after that. Many of them will take place on the surrounding islands, which just brings the whole thing to a whole new level. There are also boat parties and many other things to enjoy.
No wonder this has been widely recognized as one of the best music festivals in Europe, not to mention Croatia. So, if you’re a fan of this kind of music, attending Ultra Europe is a must!
4. Fresh Island Festival
Right after Ultra Europe, there is another great music event you can visit, albeit for a different type of music fans.
Fresh Island Festival is all about hip-hop and R’n’B. Taking place in Novalja on the island of Pag from July 15 to July 17, it’s a good way to keep partying after Split if you still have the energy and don’t mind the change of the music genre. B Young, Tim Westwood, DJ Semtex, and Lil Uzi Vert are just some of the names you can expect, with boat parties and parties before and after the main event being present here, too.
Very popular and very well organized, Fresh Island Festival is certainly a great choice and one of the best music festivals in Croatia.
5. Seasplash Festival
Seasplash Festival is another event that takes place near Šibenik, a beautiful town full of cultural monuments and great beaches. Martinska is one of the latter, and the festival takes full advantage of the magical surroundings around here.
The whole thing starts on July 17 with a concert to celebrate the grand opening (Brain Holidays, New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble and Bass Culture Sound System are in charge of the program that day) and ends on July 21. Many different kinds of music are included here, from reggae and drum N bass to electronic music and punk rock.
Getting a ticket will also secure you a camping spot, plus there are several different workshops you can attend during the festival, such as the yoga workshop, photography workshop, etc. In short, great music, beautiful surrounding and a beautiful town nearby. Summer in Croatia at its finest.
6. NOX Festival
Back to Martinska and Šibenik for this one. NOX Festival is a festival dedicated solely to electronic music which will be held on August 2 and 3. It’s a bit smaller festival in scope, but it certainly delivers when it comes to quality.
Its two stages will host about 20 artists over those two days, with the biggest names being Juan Atkins and Red Axes. You will also have the opportunity to listen to some of the more popular Croatian musicians, so if you didn’t get to enjoy Martinska in mid-July, this is your chance.
7. Monteparadiso Hardcore Punk Festival
Time to get away from electronic music a bit. Monteparadiso Hardcore Punk Festival in the town of Pula will host a variety of bands and artists from quite literally all over the world from August 1 to August 3. Apart from some bands from Croatia, there will be performers from Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Slovenia and even Japan (Alkasilka).
So, plenty of interesting stuff to hear if you’re a hardcore punk fan. Additionally, Pula is an absolutely beautiful town to visit because its roots go all the way back to ancient Roman times and the town boast an incredible colosseum which has been perfectly preserved over millennia and is still used for various events today. So, you can easily combine good music with incredible sights if you’re interested in that.
8. Camp Mars Europe Festival
OK, now this is something fairly unique. Camp Mars Europe Festival is organized by none other than Jared Leto and will once again take you near Šibenik, this time to the tiny island of Obonjan, from August 9 to August 12. This is the fifth edition of Camp Mars Festival, but all previous events took place in California.
What sets this event apart from all others is that it’s a luxury festival meant for those who want to meet Leto in person and hang out with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars who will also perform at the festival. Of course, you will have to pay a pretty penny for that – ticket range from at least 1500 to 6500 dollars – but if you won’t spare any expense to meet your idol, go right ahead.
It should be noted that the price includes accommodation, food and meeting the band. There will also be many other activities you can purchase, like massages and yoga or meditation sessions, but keep in mind that no alcohol is allowed here.
Furthermore, the so-called Ultimate Experience Package will allow you to travel Croatian coast with Jared himself, as well as provide you with a butler, dinner with Leto and stuff like that. You will have to make a special inquiry for the price and availability of this package with the organizers, though. In short – Jared Leto fans, welcome to paradise.
9. Sonus Festival
If you’re looking for a place where you can party until you can no longer stand on your feet, Zrće Beach is the place to visit.
This beautiful place has become Croatia’s party Mecca over the last few years, and Sonus Festival is a perfect excuse to go and check it out. Again, techno and electronic music is the name of the game here, with Amelia Lens, Marco Carola and Tale Of Us leading the charge, all from August 18 to August 22.
Boat parties and many other activities will be available too, plus the whole thing even got the Ambassador award (a Croatian recognition) for the best electronic music festival in the country. Definitely worth your time and money, as witnessed by thousands of visitors every year.
10. Outlook Festival
Even as summer wanes, festivals in Croatia do not stop. Outlook Festival is scheduled for the beginning of September in the aforementioned ancient town of Pula, so if you like reggae, hip-hop, dubstep and drum N bass you really should give this a go.
The whole thing starts on September 4 with a spectacular concert in the town’s ancient Roman colosseum. Now, how’s that for a concert venue! After that, the music will move to the town’s fort and the whole thing will last until September 9. Grooverider, Calibre, dBridge, Randalla, Bugzy Malone, Goldie… these are just some of the names you can enjoy.
Great town to explore and a great festival to visit, the perfect way to end your summer on a high note.
© Qazi Alfaz / travelomama
