New Zealand is one of the most beautiful exotic countries. Its astonishing sceneries, with volcanoes, lakes, large forests and wildlife, attract each year waves of visitors. Not only tourists seem fond of New Zealand. The producers for Lord of the Rings picked New Zealand as Middle Earth. Furthermore, the country’s Maori population has inhibited the islands since 1200 AD. Their traditions, lifestyle and beliefs have survived for centuries. New Zealand earned the rank of the freest country in the world and you can clearly see that among the locals. They are non-judgmental and lack hierarchies. While the preservation of culture and community events are important, what one does as an individual counts more in their eyes. They respect others’ privacy and expect the favor to be returned. In Maori etiquette, songs play an important role, so don’t be surprised when people start singing on the streets. New Zealand is the only place where Kiwi means: firstly, a New Zealand inhabitant; secondly, the national bird; and thirdly (with a “maybe” in front) the kiwifruit. For an …

Australia is more than kangaroos, koalas, desert and hot weather. It’s one of the most civilized countries, ranging even higher than the US in terms of individual and financial freedom. Plan a trip to Australia if you’re interested in Aborigine cultures, the country has one of the oldest ones. Relatively isolated from the other countries, Australia has its own distinctive culture, different from the British or the other Anglo-Saxon ones. Many great sportsmen were Aussies. However, most of the foreigners know Australia for its convicts since Britain used the territory to send off his felons. Due to the wildlife in the area (and the adventures of Steve Irwin), people’s perception about the country is unbelievably inaccurate: they think of kangaroo riders, savages, and a vast portion of unoccupied land. Wrong! Australia has amazing cities, such as Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. It has 7 universities in the Global Top 100. Australians love sports and it has not 1, not 2, but 3 Frisbee teams. Drinking is embedded within the culture. Bob Hawkes beat the World …

What makes a great golf travel bag? Of all the points to consider when looking for a bag to protect your favorite golf gear on the road to St. Andrews or Pebble beach or wherever your golf game may take you this year, the two most important are probably price and protection. Beyond these two, there is quite an assortment of bags on the market that will likely meet your needs. Protection The first decision for you to make is hard or soft shell? Hard shell cases do offer the most protection for your valuable golf clubs, but there are a few significant strikes against them to think of as well. First, they tend to be significantly more expensive than most soft shell bags. Also, they tend to be much heavier than your average soft bag and they have no give at all when attempting to fit them into limited spaces like rental car trunks. That said, there are many very high quality soft sided bags on the market that offer great protection to your …

Strictly speaking, backcountry vacations entail non-motorized treks into remote, wilderness areas. Ideally, these involve backpacking or the use of pack animals with a hiking itinerary that involves at least one overnight camp. But newcomers to backcountry travel may want to ease into the experience starting with day hikes. The Originals Hikers get the picture in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas. Hikers get the picture in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas. John Muir (1838-1914) and Bob Marshall (1901-39), principle founders of the Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society, respectively, are the patriarchs of contemporary backcountry travel devotees. Muir wrote of venturing into Yosemite National Park backcountry, and Marshall could hike 50 to 60 miles a day across alpine terrain. National Parks Lost Valley State Park in Arkansas is seen in early spring. Lost Valley State Park in Arkansas is seen in early spring. The National Park Service administers some of the best backcountry in the United States. Knowledgeable and helpful rangers and loads of resource material about trails and destinations facilitate planning. Teamwork A cascade runs …

Mystery surrounds sunken ships, with tales of lost treasure or historical artifacts. The topic has been popularized by the movie series “Pirates of the Caribbean,” with its portrayal of The Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones’ Locker legends. Study of submerged vessels can lead even to fascinating vacation opportunities. The Granddaddy of Sunken Ships The story of the Titanic’s sinking is the indisputable champion of sunken ship stories. “Titanic” film director James Cameron continues the story with documentary footage on cable television’s Discovery Channel of undersea efforts to study the vessel’s wreckage. The Graveyard of the Atlantic The waters off of North Carolina’s barrier islands, known as the The Graveyard of the Atlantic, offers great access to historical data on actual sunken vessels. More than 2,000 ships have sunk in these waters since people began keeping records in 1526, according to a North Carolina tourism website. Cape Hatteras National Seashore A visit to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, provides an excellent and accessible vacation if you are interested in learning more about all things seagoing …