Monday Escape: Coromandel, New Zealand

Today’s Monday Escape takes you to New Zealand’s North Island on the Coromandel Peninsula. I visited Coromandel after spending a couple weeks in the Northland near the Bay of Islands – I didn’t think this area of New Zealand could be topped, until I made it to Coromandel. It’s a beautiful area filled with mountains, [...]

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Monday Escape: Tobermory, Isle of Mull

Today’s Monday Escape brings you to the small fishing village of Tobermory on Scotland’s Isle of Mull. The village just asks to be featured on Scottish postcards with brightly colored buildings surrounding a small harbor. It is a working fishing village which was founded in 1788 and well worth a visit if you’re traveling around [...]

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Monday Escape: Kaikoura, New Zealand

Today’s Monday Escape takes you to sunny Kaikoura, found on New Zealand’s South Island south of the world famous Marlborough wine region. It’s a beautiful spot for a town – tucked between the sea on one side and the rugged Seaward Kaikoura Range on the other. Kaikoura translates to kai – food and koura – [...]

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Monday Escape: Sognefjord, Norway

Today’s Monday Escape takes you to the stunning Sognefjord in Western Norway. It’s the longest fjord in Norway and the second longest in the world. Norway is not an ideal place to be as a backpacker as it’s one of the most expensive countries in Europe. Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful place – even in the [...]

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Monday Escape: Vejer de la Frontera, Spain

Today’s Monday’ Escape takes you to Vejer de la Frontera – one of the most beautiful, yet forlorn, towns on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos in Southern Spain. The old, whitewashed village (save for the iron gates along the walls and the exotic flowers snaking up buildings) is known for having the highest suicide rate [...]

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Monday Escape: Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand

Franz Josef Glacier is 12 kilometers long and found on New Zealand’s West Coast (South Island). It’s the world’s fastest moving glacier – moving at speeds of up to one meter per day. Big Franz Glacier is located only 300 meters above sea level and is surrounded near its base by temperate rainforest. It’s a [...]

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Monday Escape: Amsterdam

On my interrail trip across Europe in 2008, I decided to begin my journey across the continent in Amsterdam. Amsterdam was a ‘must see’ for me and should be for any backpacker. Considering its location, Amsterdam is a logical place to start your interrail trip. You can head south to France via Belgium, or you [...]

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Monday Escape: Lake Vermilion, Minnesota

Each summer, my family spends one week in Northern Minnesota. It’s a chilled out vacation – the relaxing, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, card-playing, eating, drinking, reading, catching up with old friends, and spending time with family type of vacation. I love adventure travel. I love backpacking to new places. I love venturing off into the unknown. [...]

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Monday Escape: Charles Bridge

Today’s Monday Escape brings you to the capital of the Czech Republic: Prague. Prague is a fascinating city steeped in history and filled with Gothic architecture. With Prague’s Stare Mesto (Old Town), the Prague Castle (the largest in the world), and the Astronomical Clock – there is plenty to keep you busy. One of Prague’s [...]

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Monday Escape: Chios, Greece

Today’s Monday Escape takes you to Chios, Greece, found just off the coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea. Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek Islands and is home to just under 50,000 people. As it’s very often overlooked by tourist companies operating from Athens, it’s a terrific island to visit if you [...]

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