By the intersection of Lincoln and Lake Streets, head towards the water and find the Crescent Harbor informational plaque to start a waterfront walk through Sitka’s nature, fishing culture and history. Be sure to look closely in the shallow harbor for sea stars, herring eggs, bald eagles, and other fauna. Past the playground, there’s a short detour leading to a...

Sitka’s Cross Trail is so named because it runs across the bulk of the city, but you won’t know that you are just a few steps out of civilization. One of the best sprawling muskeg and mountain views of Sitka is at the trail’s Yaw Junction (which also spills nicely into Indian River trail), and there is a particularly beautiful...

There is a running debate among the local outdoorsy folk about which mountain is a better hike, Mount Verstovia or Gavan Hill. The Gavan Hill die-hards don’t mind the wooden-stair hike to the peak. Any unpleasant huffing and puffing endured in the climb is easily made up for with the breathtaking views of Sitka Sound and Baranof Island. Above the...

Park at Herring Cove/Beaver Lake parking lot and continue past the traffic gate, down the gravel road for about an hour until you reach Medvejie Hatchery. This part of the trail is relatively uninteresting and can also be easily biked to cut down on travel time. From the hatchery, turn left by a creek and continue into the forest—the trail...

At the end of Halibut Point Road is an easy and beautiful, hour-long loop that takes you through fairytale, moss-covered rainforest on rocky beach fronts. At low tide, you can walk out to some tiny, rocky islands—though watch your step for shallow tide pools full of sea stars and anemones. At high tide, the sea comes right up to meet...

There is a running debate among the local outdoorsy folk about which mountain is a better hike, Gavan Hill or Mount Verstovia. The taller of the two, Mount Verstovia’s first peak at Picnic Rock offers spectacular views of the city and Silver Bay. If you still have energy, you can continue from there down (and then back up) an unofficial...

The Raptor Center specializes in raptor research and rehabilitation, but heals other local birds, such as swans and ravens, when needed. Visitors can observe and learn more about the amazing birds of prey that live in Sitka, such as owls and eagles, and also meet some birds here to stay from other parts of the US. The friendly and knowledgeable...

Silver Bay is a deep water fjord bordered by a particularly coastal and scenic part of Sawmill Creek Road, a seafood plant, and the mountains of Baranof and smaller islands. The drive to Silver Bay is short but stunning, with mountains peeking around bends and cascades of melting mountain water running down the rocky ledges by the road. The lookout...

Between the end of Lincoln Street and a rocky beach sits Sitka National Historical Park. This patch of forest is centered around an old Russian fort site with Tlingit and Haida totem poles erected along the way. While you walk along the beach path, keep an eye out for distant whale spouts on the water. Watch for running salmon and...

At the end of Halibut Point Road is a short boardwalk trail through grassy Starrigavan Estuary. The amateur bird watcher will appreciate the wildlife thanks to the information provided along the walk. Extend this short but stunning outing to the Starrigavan muskeg trail. Cross the street at the end of the Starrigavan Estuary trail and follow the signs up a...

Whale Park is a small whale-watching station off of Sawmill Creek Road. It’s far enough from town to be a quiet place to look for whales from land, but is closer than Silver Bay. Kids (and adults too) can enjoy climbing on the whale statues at the entrance. Visitors can choose to sit in the gazebo outfitted with binoculars, or...

The calm of Lake Ohrid may come from the fact that it is the deepest lake in the Balkans, and one of the oldest lakes in the world (comparable to Lake Baikal and Lake Tanganyika). It lies between Albania and Macedonia and on the Albanian side the largest town is Pogradec where there are plenty of hotels, bars and cafes....

This lake is a ‘wetland of international importance’ (and on the Montenegrin side, a national park). It’s home to the endemic Dalmatian Pelican, the world’s largest colony of Pygmy Cormorants and 268 other bird species. There’s a beach on the lake at Shiroka and swimming is popular. As the lake marks the border between Albania and Montenegro you might want...

During the spring, snowmelt swells the Osum river and creates waterfalls and a navigable rafting route along the 26km (16 mile) of this towering canyon. Rafting is possible between March and June. The river’s rapids don’t need prior experience to be navigated

Arriving in Theth, high in the ‘Accursed Mountains’, feels like you have just been let in on a secret. The plateau with its attractive shingled houses, church, school and water mill may seem like an ideal community – though it’s important to notice too the traditional kulla stone house for sheltering families in blood feud. There are many (perhaps too...

Fresh air, the sparkling water of the Valbona river, traditional shingled homes… You may find yourself so enchanted by your guesthouse in Valbona (the name means ‘beautiful valley’) that you never quite make it up the mountain. However, if and when you stir from the deep peace of this secluded gorge, you’ll find there are beautiful hiking and trekking trails...

Part of the City of Albuquerque Open Space System, this part covers 640 acres of high desert habitat with walking trails through chamisa, yucca, blue grama grass and Apache plume. The area includes seven covered picnic areas and two larger shelters with barbecue grills that can be reserved for large event groups, such as family reunions. A network of trails links...

Carved by Native American and Hispanic settlers 400 to 700 years ago, the petroglyph here make up one of the largest collections of carved rock art in North America. Explore the park via one or more of several trails, including the widely accessible Boca Negra Canyon trail and the longer, 2.2-mile, Rinconada Canyon trail. Located on the western edge of the...

One of North America’s longest aerial tramways, these cable cars whisk passengers from the Albuquerque foothills to the crest of the Sandia Mountains in 15 minutes. Built in 1966 as a way to access the Sandia Peak Ski Area on the east side of the mountains, the tram still transports skiers to the backside each winter. However, most riders come...

Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse are ideal towns for touring by bike. Pedestrian areas, bike routes, and secure parking stands make this a safe and fun method of exploring the area. Pick up maps and information at the offices of tourism or bike rental locations. In Strasbourg, Vélhop operates a self-service bike rental system with dozens of stations around town. Get...