Hotel & travel blogs written by our editors

From Rainforest and Quinault Lake by Irvine

With park season is full swing and Labor Day approaching, Olympic National Park in Washington State is a popular destination. Unsurpassed beauty comes in the form of verdant rainforest, towering trees, beautiful beaches, and stunning glaciers. Nestled within this pristine wilderness is Lake Quinault and the Quinault Rainforest. The lake was carved by a glacier, and the rainforest, known as The Valley of the Giants, is home to the world’s largest Sitka Spruce.

Today’s photo of the day was taken by Irvine as he smelled the clean air and absorbed the gorgeous sites of Olympic National Park. He writes:

“The trees here are HUGE, not like we have them in Europe I tell ya, at least not that I can recall. All the moss on the trees is amazing too, looking kinda spooky at times I guess… Not far from the start there’s a little river with a couple of little waterfalls. Nice to see the water so clear and the water running, very calming in a forest without that many tourists.” (more…)

For more ideas on things to see and do in Washington State this summer, visit our Washington Travel Guide.

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Nairobi by WorldExplorer

As Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi provides endless amounts of attractions and sites to explore. Wondering where to begin? With only a day or two in this lively city, you can get a taste of great cuisine, visit unique museums and get close to wildlife.

What to See

The Langata Giraffe Center is a popular place to go - see the stately Rothschild giraffes, now an endangered species that the center was built to protect. Visit the Karen Blixen Museum, once home to the famous author who wrote “Out Of Africa,” and the Nairobi Railway Museum to learn about the railway history of East Africa.

Here are a few other ideas from World Explorer, two RealTravelers who recently took a tour of Nairobi:

“The following day, the driver picked us up and we set out to see the Nairobi Safari Walk, the Karen Blixen Museum, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Langata Giraffe Center, and the Bomas (“hut”) of Kenya. The Nairobi Safari Walk was like a zoo, however many of the animals are not in confined spaces. A well-informed guide took us along a safari-like boardwalk through the animals to see a pygmy hippo, a white rhino, and many other animals. There was even a cheetah that has been raised in captivity that they can summon from the woods and you can pet. This made me quite nervous, but I did stand still long enough for a picture.” (more…)

Visit the Bomas Cultural Center to learn about village culture, tribes and their traditions:

“The Bomas (“huts”) of Kenya is a cultural center where resident musicians and dancers perform traditional music and dances from the 16 various tribal groups in Kenya. One of the largest tribal groups in Kenya that has retained its culture is the Masai tribe, a herder society. They can easily be spotted by the red-checkered wraps they wear to scare lions away from their herds of cattle and sheep. At the Bomas of Kenya it is also possible to see examples of the huts and village settings many of the tribes traditionally lived in.” (more…)

Planning your trip

Here’s a great itinerary that includes Nairobi as part of a 10 day Safari Vacation - you’ll get great insights on how to plan your trip including when to go, where to stay and what to see: East Africa – Great Migration

Kenya Travel Guide
Nairobi Travel Guide
Cheap Flights and Hotels
36 Hours in Narobi - New York Times

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