In size, they are no bigger than a cardinal. However, their beauty is unique. They have exquisite white wings with black tips. Their tails also bear the black tip marking. They have a bright blue color displayed around their eyes. Their heads are toppled with a white lacy burst of feathers. They are a very vocal bird and often their chatter is accompanied with the bobbing of their heads. This is especially noticeable in their mating season.

Their main diet is that of plants and other animals significantly insects, worms, caterpillars, ants, and other invertebrates. During seasons where food is scarce they tend to travel in groups to help locate provisions.

The limited population of the Bali mynah is due to the threat of illegal pet trade. Up until 1990 there were at least 60 of the birds in existence but because of the barren nature of their habitat and their habitual grouping technique, the numbers have decreased below 10. Though they are protected by the government their capture remains a problem as they can be sold as pets for around a thousand dollars. Many of them are lost to death due to the poor conditions of shipping them illegally.

Zoos have actually developed breeding programs to help repopulate the bird and its hopeful their efforts will succeed. Luckily due to the involvement of these organizations, the numbers of illegal trade have been greatly reduced. These programs also initiate educational awareness towards these and other extinct animals. In Indonesia the Bali Mynah is the symbol of such educational programs.

There are ways you can take a stand against the extinction of animals. One way is by rejecting products which are made from animal materials such as clothing, wallets, belts, etc. Buy locally grown and produced products so you can be sure of their history. Finally, exotic pets are often sold in an immoral way. Question the heritage of the animal before making a decision to purchase. Common care goes along way in saving the lives of these and other exotic animals. No animal should be found in extinct measure to satisfy the entertaining luxuries of humankind.

Sun-kissed beaches in exotic locations?
A romantic weekend in a historic European city?
A weekend camping in picturesque woodlands?

Whatever your preference, there are a wide range of destinations and activities available for all ages – whether it’s a quiet little bed and breakfast or a bustling holiday park.

But with the credit crunch putting a squeeze on our financial resources, many of us will most likely be putting the thought of jetting off on our holidays to the back of our minds. However, whilst you might not be able to afford to travel to exotic locations on the other side of the world, there’s still plenty of destinations in the UK to explore and enjoy.

As a result of the credit crunch, many are now looking locally with regards to their holiday plans. With increases in the cost of air travel in recent times causing many to think of alternatives to travelling abroad.

Tourism in the UK was usually dependent on visitors from outside the UK, with many tourists flocking to cities such as London and Edinburgh to discover more about the rich cultural history of Britain. There are a wide variety of attractions around the UK that can make for a relaxing holiday, and offer a welcome alternative to package holidays and expensive air travel:

Holiday parks – usually located in coastal regions, popular with families due to the multitude of activities and entertainment on offer. Many of these will also offer late deals towards the end of the season, so it’s never too late to enjoy a holiday for the whole family.
Activity holidays – popular with those seeking an adrenaline rush during their trips. Activities can vary depending on location, with some offering accommodation as part of package holidays.
Historical tours – allows you to explore cities that are steeped in history, many will offer open-topped buses with an audio guide, allowing you the chance to sit back and relax whilst you explore the city on your doorstep.
Stay local – research local attractions and events in your area in order to save money. If you want to keep the children entertained, consider a visit to a local zoo or other attractions closer to home.
When researching local attractions it can be worth picking up a few leaflets on local events from the supermarket and checking out the local paper in order to find an attraction to visit. You never know, you might just end up finding a hidden gem in your local area

By doing a little research into your local area during the planning of your holiday, you can uncover some local destinations that are fun for the whole family.

Places of interest:

Eastbourne is a natural gateway to the South Downs including national
beauty spot Beachy Head. Being close to 1066 Country, Eastbourne is an
ideal base for visiting castles, stately homes, vineyards, transport
museums and exotic gardens across Sussex.

Beachy Head, with its dramatic white cliffs and gently undulating
downs, is an area of outstanding natural beauty and tranquillity which
belies its proximity to the busy south eastern towns of England. It is
a haven for those who like to walk or cycle. It’s also a great place
for hang-gliding, mountain boarding, or for the rather less extreme
sport of flying a kite.

Battle is a busy market town situated close to the site of the
famous Battle of Hastings. The actual site of the battle was the Senlac
field to the north of the seaside town of Hastings. Here you can
experience the most famous date in English history, find out how the
nation changed forever in October 1066 and discover the facts of the
Norman Conquest in the very place it happened.

Herstmonceaux Castle is a magnificent moated castle, set in
beautiful parkland and superb Elizabethan gardens. Here you can
experience the peace and tranquillity of this 15th century castle set
among carefully maintained gardens and parkland. The castle is not open
to the public; however guided tours are conducted from Sunday to
Friday. Other facilities include a gift shop, visitor’s centre, tea
room, nature trail and children’s woodland play area.

Things to do:

Get your skates on and join the locals in their favourite pastime of
roller-blading along the five mile stretch of promenade, from the
peaceful Falling Sands to the bustling Sovereign Harbour Marina. Browse
around the waterfront shops or relax in one of the continental style
restaurants, cafes or bars at the harbour. Eastbourne has a thriving
sailing and water sports scene. Have a splash at windsurfing and
canoeing, or take a pleasure boat trip along the coast.

Eastbourne Pier is the perfect family attraction. The pier is the
hub of all activity on the seafront with visitors from all over the
country making the pier their first port of call. Tens of thousands of
people visit the pier during the day in the height of summer – and it’s
no wonder with so much to enjoy. We have activities for all the family.
Enjoy the stunning views of the seafront from the Camera Obscura, take
a leisurely stroll around the shops, have lunch in the newly
refurbished family bar. If that isn’t enough, the pier lights up at
night with the town’s very best night club and bars. Even in the height
of summer, the club’s air conditioning keeps the full house nice and
cool.

Sovereign Harbour Marina nestles peacefully in the beautiful South
Downs at Eastbourne. Along with the excellent location, a range of
first-class, 24 hour facilities and an unbeatable level of professional
and helpful service are provided. The Waterfront, the superb
harbour-side development of cafés, bars, restaurants and shops,
provides a haven where boat-owners can relax.

Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Park, Travel behind the famous
one-eighth scale miniature locomotives as they meander for nearly a
mile around the beautiful country park. Enjoy a pleasant stroll around
the five-acre lake where nature and wildlife may be seen in their
natural habitats or relax in the prize-winning tea gardens with a
beverage, lunch or Cream Tea from the railway style cafe.

Drusillas Zoo in Alfriston has hundreds of fascinating and
entertaining creatures you can be certain there will be plenty of
animal magic to enthral and excite everyone from the youngest to the
oldest visitor! But animals are only half the fun at Drusillas Playland
is paradise for anyone who needs to let off steam, packed with slides
and swings, ropes and climbable things.

Food & Drink:

Eastbourne, home of the Banoffi Pie, offers everything from 5 star
dining and multi-cultural cuisine to the traditional seaside staple of
Fish ‘n’ Chips and delicious ice cream. Even enjoy some more
gastronomic delights with wine tasting at nearby vineyards, visit a
cider farm, indulge in a Sussex cream tea, pop into a traditional
country pub or visit a farm shop and stock up on fresh Sussex produce.

The Counting House is a beautiful pub dating back to the 17th
century and as such you can find cosy open fires to settle yourself
down in front of to enjoy a pint or two, or perhaps a glass of wine.
They also serve up excellent classic pub food and host regular film and
quiz nights.

Taboo is a modern style café bar aimed at the younger
generation. As such you can enjoy a brightly coloured décor and
dark wooden furniture. There are a good variety of drinks on offer at
the bar and well as some tasty tapas dishes too.

Slater’s Wine Bar is the place for a decent bottle of wine and
plenty of choice of different wines available by the glass. Here you’ll
find a convivial atmosphere in which to enjoy quality wine at
reasonable prices.

Bibendum is a restaurant with a separate and equally popular bar
area. You can expect plenty of comfortable seating, modern décor
and a great range of drinks. Food includes gourmet style dishes such as
mussels in a fragrant coconut and lemongrass broth.

Eastbourne Hotels & Accommodation:

Eastbourne offers a range of accommodation from 5 star luxury to small
and friendly guest houses. A natural gateway to the South Downs
countryside, Eastbourne is also the ideal location to stay overnight
when exploring Sussex villages, country parks, forests, vineyards,
historic buildings and of course national beauty spot Beachy Head.

Bay Lodge Hotel

Chatsworth Hotel

Best Western York House Hotel

Marine Parade Hotel

Hydro Hotel

New Wilmington Hotel

Cherry Tree Hotel

The Sheldon Hotel

The Cumberland Hotel

Atlanta Hotel

Quality Hotel Eastbourne

Best Western Lansdowne Hotel

The Grand Hotel

Albert & Victoria

Weyanoke Hotel

Entertainment

Eastbourne by night offers the perfect place to either relax after a
busy day of sightseeing or kick up your heels and dance the night away.
Take in a West End musical or enjoy a Bandstand concert, everything
from Rock n Roll to the Proms or a Classical 1812 with fireworks is
available in Eastbourne.

The Congress Theatre is a purpose built modern theatre and
conference venue with a seating capacity of 1689. It has a licensed
bar, and facilities for the disabled.

The Winter Garden is a Grade II listed building, designed by
architect Henry Currey and built in 1875. It consists of two main parts
- the Floral Hall, originally used as a skating rink in winter and
concert hall in summer, and the Gold Room.

The Royal Hippodrome opened in 1883 as the New Theatre Royal and
Opera House. It changed to the Royal Hippodrome in 1904 following
refurbishment. The Royal Hippodrome was the home of Music Hall in
Eastbourne for many years and has the longest running summer show in
Britain.

Eastbourne can be whatever you want it to be, if you want peace and
tranquillity you can find it there but if you want the sea, sport and
adventure that is there as well. Eastbourne is the ideal place to watch
the world go by one minute and explore the area the next.

Sheryl Crow’s career began more than two decades ago, when the former elementary school teacher was discovered by local producers in a small Missouri town. After a brief stint as a widely successful TV jingle writer, Crow’s big break finally arrived in 1987, when she was brought on as a vocalist on Michael Jackson’s BAD World Tour.

In 1993, Crow released her first album, Tuesday Night Music Club. The album was an instant hit with fans around the world. It went on to produce several successful singles, move more than 5.3 million units and achieve a 7x Multi-Platinum RIAA certification.

Since Tuesday Night Music Club, Crow has released eight additional albums, including: Sheryl Crow, The Globe Sessions, Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park, C’mon C’mon, The Very Best of Sheryl Crow, Wildflower, Hits & Rarities and her latest 2008 release, Detours. These albums have featured some of Crow’s most popular singles, including All I Wanna Do, Strong Enough, If It Makes you Happy, Every Day is a Winding Road, My Favorite Mistake, Sweet Child o’ Mine, Soak Up the Sun and C’Mon C’Mon.

Crow’s latest release, Detours, was reviewed by critics as the resurrection of a classic Sheryl Crow at her finest. The album’s sound mirrors Crow’s earlier work, namely 1998’s The Globe Sessions. In addition, Detours sees Crow collaborating once again with Bill Bottrel, the producer of her widely successful debut release, Tuesday Night Music Club.

To promote and celebrate Detours, Cheryl Crow has begun touring, in concert tour which sees the musician performing in four countries on two continents, over the span of almost half a year. The tour kicked off in August of 2008 in the United States and is set to hit Canada in September and October and Australia and New Zealand in November and December.

Sheryl Crow Tour Dates:

August 2, 2008 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center for Performing Arts

August 3, 2008 – Canandaigua, NY – Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center

August 5, 2008 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy/Music Theatre

August 6, 2008 – Green bay, WI – Resch Center

August 8, 2008 – Milwaukee, WI – Bradley Center

August 9, 2008 – Minneapolis, MN – Northrop Auditorium

August 10, 2008 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival

August 13, 2008 – Bossier City, LA – CenturyTel Center

August 14, 2008 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion

August 15, 2008 – Dallas, TX – Superpages Center

August 16, 2008 – Oklahoma City, OK – Zoo Amphitheatre

August 18, 2008 – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Casino Amphitheater

August 19, 2008 – Tucson, AZ – Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater

August 21, 2008 – Valley Center, CA – Valley View Casino

August 22, 2008 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood

August 23, 2008 – South Lake Tahoe, CA – Harvey’s Outdoor Arena

August 25, 2008 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Ampitheatre

August 27, 2008 – Nampa, ID – Idaho Center Amphitheatre

August 28, 2008 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater

August 29, 2008 – Troutdale, OR – Edgefield Ampitheater

August 30, 2008 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Amphitheater

September 22, 2008 – Montreal, QC – Bell CentreSuperpages Center

September 23, 2008 – Kingston, CAN – Kingston Memorial Ctr. Arena

September 24, 2008 – London, ON – John Labatt Centre

September 25, 2008 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Steelback Centre

September 27, 2008 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

September 28, 2008 – Regina, CAN – Brandt Centre

September 29, 2008 – Saskatoon, SK – Credit Union Centre

October 1, 2008 – Calgary, AB – Pengrowth Saddledome

October 2, 2008 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

October 3, 2008 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place

October 4, 2008 – Vancouver, BC – General Motors Place

October 5, 2008 – Victoria, BC – Save on Foods Centre

November 15, 2008 – Sandalford, AUS – A Day On the Green

November 19, 2008 – Adelaide, AUS – Adelaide Entertainment Centre

November 21, 2008 – Melbourne, AUS – Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park

November 22, 2008 – Yarra Valley, AUS – Rochford Wines

November 25, 2008 – Brisbane, AUS – Brisbane Entertainment Centre

November 28, 2008 – Sydney, AUS – Acer Arena

November 29, 2008 – Hunter Valley, AUS – Bimbadgen Estate

December 3, 2008 – Auckland, NZL – Vector Arena

December 6, 2008 – Wellington, NZL – Alana Estate Winery

December 7, 2008 – Christchurch, NZL – Mudhouse Winery

Sheryl Crow tickets available at:

ShowTime Tickets

604-688-5000

1-800-480-SHOW(7469)

www.showtimetickets.com

The Central-Leatherstocking region of New York is rich in history and beautiful landscapes. Both the Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame are located there. You can learn the art and history of beer making on a tour of Saranac Brewery in Utica. For something completely different, you can visit Howe Caverns or Secret Caverns and see incredible underground stone formations. The world’s smallest church is in Oneida. Don’t miss the Cherry Valley Museum with its selection of 17th and 18th Century clothing.

The Adirondack region contains thousands of lakes, ponds, and hiking trails. You can hike along the Ausable Chasm or go fishing in the Ausable River. You can explore a remote wilderness area with a guide. You can also visit the Black River for rafting and Lake Champlain for swimming. Lake George features water sports, as well as the 36 foot tall statue of Uncle Sam.

The Chautauqua-Allegheny region has many well-preserved Victorian homes. You’ll also find in this area the Panama Rocks and the 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Jamestown is Lucille Ball’s hometown. It has a museum full of memories from her and Desi Arnaz’s life together.

The Capital-Saratoga region is noted for the historic Capitol in Albany, as well as covered bridges, woodlands, farms, or church steeples against a bright blue sky. In Albany you can see Nipper, the giant dog sculpture that is the trademark for RCA. You can visit Schenectady’s Stockade, a Dutch Village settled some 300 years ago.

Waterfalls, mountains, forests, and streams are all part of the Catskills region. Bethel, home of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, now host a variety of musical events each summer. There is also the world’s largest kaleidoscope, Catskill Game Farm, Zoom Flume Water Park and a number of European-style wineries.

The Finger Lakes offers the great outdoors, wonderful heritage tours, and unlimited opportunities to feed the mind, body and spirit. The George Eastman house and the Sciencenter are just two of the region’s attractions.

Everyone, especially honeymooners, has heard about Niagara Falls. Other attractions in the Greater Niagara region include Six Flags Darien Lake Theme Park, Letchworth State Park, and the Metrorail system in downtown Buffalo. You can also visit the Jell-O museum in LeRoy.

The Hudson River region features President Franklin Roosevelt’s estate in Hyde Park. Newburgh is the site of General George Washington’s headquarters. The restaurants in the area are legendary, as is Hudson Valley wine. The beauty of the region has inspired artists for hundreds of years, as well as such writers as Thomas Jefferson.

The Long Island region has 118 mile of beaches. At its eastern tip is the historic Montauk Lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington. You can camp nearby on the beach at Hither Hills State Park and get up early to watch the beautiful sunrise. The island is steeped maritime heritage and features national laboratory science museum and others, zoos, and working farms.

The Thousand Islands region features nearly 2,000 islands. There you can enjoy power boating, sailing, whitewater rafting, fishing, golfing, tennis and hiking. Boldt Castle is set on an island fashioned into the shape of a heart and is a monument to a real-life love story.

It also has a fine museum that houses one of the best Roman collections in the country.

In Hertfordshire you can find many major cities of interest like Hertford itself, Watford and Welwyn Garden City which is not far from your St Albans City Tour.

This area was assigned a fortress constructed in Hertford under the rule of Edward the Elder in 913AD.

The name Hertford is derived from the Anglo Saxon heart ford which means deer crossing.

Hertford is located immediately to the north of Greater London and is therefore a part of South East England.

Despite the spread of built-up areas, much of the county is still given over to farming and agriculture.

Local rivers although small, do support developed local industries such as paper production at Nash Mills.

Alden ham is a village approximately 3 miles North-East of Watford, Hertfordshire and about 2 miles from Radlett town.

Many historic buildings are here like Alden Social Club and Wall Hall. Alden Social Club is a medieval hall built in 1500 a very fine example of red brick architecture.

Also situated in Hertfordshire is Wall Hall which is a magnificent gothic revival mansion with a castellated fa?e created in the early nineteen century for George Woodford Thelluson, a very prosperous city banker mentioned in Charles Dickens ‘A tale of two cities’.

Then you have Bridgewater Monument which is a tower on the Ashbridge estate, built in 1832. In around 1959 Ashbridge college was relaunched to provide management training and is now Ashbridge Business School.

The Hertfordshire and Middlesex Trust are responsible for protecting the land forms and natural habitat which is sometimes threatened by urban development.

At the northern end of the County are the Ivinghoe Hills – an outstanding area of chalk down land and dominated by the impressive Ivinghoe Beacon.

At Paradise Wildlife Park you can see an extensive range of animals like lions, tigers, zebra, monkeys and camels.

It also has many new attractions including the On Safari adventure golf, The Angkor reptile temple, tiger falls, gold panning, wonders of the rainforest, the wild west parrot show, battle of the robots and Children’s craft area. There are many indoor and outdoor activities for a great day with your family.

There are three themed adventure playgrounds, children rides, indoor soft play areas – don’t forget to bring socks as children can’t play without them and there are many modern attractions, so come and discover the fun !

The timber framed Grange, once the market hall, is Hertfordshire’s most carved building and a very rare example of the work of John Abel, the king’s carpenter.

Hertfordshire’s museum and art gallery is housed in a Victorian gothic building exhibiting publicly since 1874 with regularly constantly changing exhibitions.

Hertfordshire is a great place to live even if you don’t have a vehicle with great shopping arcades. The old town market is within walking distance from anywhere in town and London is only half an hour way by train.

There are many museums in Hertfordshire like the Ashwell Village Museum, Baldock Museum, Bishops Stortford Museum, Buntingford Heritage Centre, Bushey Museum, Cromer Windmill, Dacorum Heritage Centre, Datchworth Museum, De Havelland Aircraft Heritage Centre, Elsetree Heritage Centre, Elsetree Film and Television Heritage Group, Hertford Museum, British Schools Museum, Hitchin, Hitchin Museum and Art Gallery, Knebworth House, Letchworth Museum and Art Gallery, Lowewood Museum Hoddesdon, Mill Green Museum, Museum of St Albans, Museum of Technology, The Great War & WW II, Potters Bar Museum, Redbourn Museum, Royston & District Museum, St Albans Organ Theater, Scott’s Grotto Ware, Stevenage Museum, Three Rivers Museum Rickmansworth, Natural History Museum Tring, Watford Museum, Ware Museum, and Welwyn Roman Baths.

Hertfordshire, an inland UK County, is bound on the North West by Bedfordshire, and on the North by Cambridgeshire, in the East by Essex, in the South by Middlesex and London and in the South West by Buckinghamshire.

Its Eastern boundary, from the middle southward is traced by the rivers Stort and Lea.

A portion of the Chiltern Hills is in the North West and West and there are heights of 904 feet at Kensworth and 664 feet at Little Offley which of course command an extensive view of the surrounding area.

Hertfordshire farms range from 160 to 400 acres and are held either yearly or on leases of seven to fourteen years.

The farm grasslands are used more for hay than for pasturage and the orchards produce chiefly apples and cherries.

The cattle here are principally of the Suffolk, Hereford, Devon and Welsh breeds and the horses used for farm work are the Suffolk punches and a few Lincolns.

There are many tourist attractions in Hertfordshire, but first of all try Woodside Animal and Leisure Park. It is located in seven acres of beautiful English countryside in the quiet village of Woodside. This award winning farm offers a fun packed day with more animals and things to do than any other farm in the county. Everything in the park is signposted and all paths are concreted so families with pushchairs and wheelchairs don’t face a problem.

Then you have a Mead Open Farm where the kids have a heap of play time, which results in more smiles, and they can meet and play with various types of animals.

Shaggy’s Play World over there has over 13000 sq feet of indoor play, which includes giant drop slides, zig-zag net climber and meet the new baby animals. This farm also has a Crazy Golf, Go karts, outdoor log play adventure and during the summer months Tractor and Trailer rides, there is so much to do.

The Leighton Buzzard Railway is not too far away for a Day Out and it is one very few narrow gauge light railway tracks to survive in England. It was built in 1919 to transport sand, and the line has carried a steam hauled passenger train service since 1968 and now houses the largest collection of narrow gauge locomotives in England.

The Clock Tower and the Eleanor Cross are located in the heart of St Albans the historic city. Behind the cross is the Clock Tower which is the only medieval example in the whole country. Guided tours can be arranged for parties of 10 or more.

For the first time visitor to Hertfordshire another thing not to be missed is a visit to Hatfield house. This Jacobean house was the home of the Marquess of Salisbury and was built in 1611.

It contains treasured famous portraits of, rear tapestries, fine furniture and armour. Within the gardens stands a wing of the Old Palace, childhood home of Elizabeth 1. It is the venue for Elizabethan banquets, weddings and private functions throughout the year.

The ground has 1000 acres of parkland open to the public with nature trails through woodlands, wildlife and waterfowl, picnic areas and children’s play area. The west gardens include the herb, knot and wilderness areas whilst the east gardens offer kitchen garden and formal ornamental flower gardens.

Whatever tickles your fancy from Zoos to Aquariums, Animals to Museums, Theme Parks, Parks and Gardens, Castles, Art Galleries, Monuments and Historical Buildings, Tourist Attractions are plentiful when you visit Hertfordshire.

Croatia’s coastline stretches thousands of miles, and offers more than 1,000 offshore islands. The country has a mild Mediterranean climate which makes it such an appealing destination.

A visit to Zagreb, which is the capital city of Croatia offers itself as the focal point of culture and science and is located between the Adriatic coast and Central Europe.

Zagreb also offers its tourists the Baroque atmosphere of the Upper Town. There are quaint open-air markets which give the browser a variety of shopping facilities. The country boasts many stunning green parks which you can visit including places of interest in the beautiful surroundings.

Trogir is situated in the centre of Dalmatia and considered to be one of the best places to stop on the Dalmatian coast which is on the eastern coastline of Adriatic sea. Trogir is also a good place to be if you wish to travel on to Split, where obviously you can see the Diocletians Palace. Split is the second largest city in Croatia and is located on the coast. Being a very old and stunningly beautiful town it is hardly surprising that many that visit choose it to take advantage of the water sports that are available here.

Located near Sibnik and along the Krka River you will find the Krka National Park. It has many beautiful waterfalls some of which have naturally fresh waters to swim around in. You will see a backdrop of rugged limestone mountains and glimpse the many islands archipelagos of the Adriatic Sea. Whatever your age it is a fantastic place for a family to spend some quality time together.

Another National Park in Croatia is the Brijuni islands which were proclaimed as a national park over twenty years ago. There are a total of islands which make up the park, the largest being the Veliki and Mali Brijuni.

The islands are a haven of unspoilt nature pockets which make a natural home to a safari park and a zoo.

There are also traces of early neolithic inhabitation have been discovered on the island but one of the most amazing archaeological sites here is the pre-historic settlement on Gradina hill.

Alternatively the beauty of the Plitvice lakes and National Park lies in its sixteen lakes which are inter-connected by a variety of waterfalls. These waterfalls are and set in deep woodland which is home to a diversity of wildlife, including rare bird species, bears, wolves, and deer.

Zagorje could be described as possibly the most idyllic county in Croatia, with its rolling hills, many villages and small towns that spread out across these hills and the rivers, creeks and lakes it makes a picturesque scene that is fit for the finest jigsaw puzzle.

In the past Krapina-Zagorje was a part of the Austrian Empire making the majority of 40 castles and mansions built in the country of this era. Some of the best known monuments are Veliki Tabor and the castles of Trakoscan and Miljana.

Vancouver for the Environmental Enthusiast

Vancouver may be one of Canada’s largest urban centers. However, this does not mean it is a concrete jungle with congested streets and excessive smog. In fact, Vancouver has a lot of great ways to get in touch with nature. With all its parks and gardens, Vancouver could be the dream locale for an eco-friendly vacation.

Vancouver’s mild climate has allowed for the cultivation of a wide array of both indigenous and imported plant life. No matter what season, the city always has a great display of natural beauty. To get closer to nature, the region offers countless campsites great for both tents and RVs. Several companies also offer eco-tours of the area to suit a variety of interests.

Vancouver’s Stanley Park is one of the city’s greatest public spaces. It stretches over 1,000 acres and encompasses woodlands, beaches, and elevated views. The park is home to numerous native birds, insects, and small wildlife. It also encompasses a small zoo and larger aquarium. So, visitors to the park can ultimately interact with goats, horses, llamas, and beluga whales. Those seeking a more active experience can head to one of Stanley Park’s hiking trails or navigate the park by bicycle or horse.

Another of the most beautiful places in Vancouver is the 55-acre VanDusen Botanical Garden. Opened in 1975, the gardens reflect a decade of work to save a piece of untouched land within Vancouver. The actual landscaping took five years to complete and includes more than 250,000 plants. The park now features a Forest Center, Floral Hall, Garden Pavilion, and more. The ultimate aim of the VanDusen Botanical Garden is to instill in visitors the importance of preserving plants and an understanding of Earth’s biodiversity.

For those seeking something a bit more exotic, Vancouver also has an Asiatic garden. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is located within walking distance from downtown Vancouver. Modeled in the style of 15th century China, the garden serves as an educational bridge between Western and Eastern culture. Its construction employed more than fifty Chinese craftsmen and showcases the four main features of Chinese gardens: rock, water, plant, and architecture. Many of the elements were actually imported from China, giving the garden a truly authentic feel.

For stunning views of Vancouver’s natural ecosystem, visitors can head out to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Located 230 feet in the air, the bridge spans a 450 length. It was originally built in the late-1800s, but has since been expanded and reinforced. Views highlight the magnificence of the area’s Douglas fir trees, among many other plants and wildlife. The area around the bridge has also been designated a public park spanning some 27 acres and including numerous nature-themed activities. Some of the most popular attractions are guided hikes and a visit to the cultural center.

The various gardens and ecological centers in Vancouver frequently host educational programs for children and adults alike. Thus, the city is doing its part to promote environmental understanding. What’s more, all of these attractions can be easily reached by public transportation. Ultimately, this makes Vancouver one of the few cities where nature is truly a part of the urban visitor’s experience.