Smoking Signals

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – swim in a rock pool at the fall's edge. During the dry season, it is possible to walk along the rocky edge of the falls, combine that with a swim in the Zambezi River and to reach a pool where you can swim right next to the fall's edge. The onrush of water pushes swimmers to the edge of Devil's Pool and that stops them from plunging over the cliff.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Namib Desert, Namibia – sand-boarding on the dunes at Swakopmund. Go sand-boarding on the dunes of the Namib for a fun vacation. You can do it two ways, either by lying on your tummy on the board or by standing up. No experience is need and you have a choice of six different slopes.

Sand-boarding
Cape Town, South Africa – wine tasting on a farm in Stellenbosch. Cape Town is the go-to-place when you want to do wine tasting in South Africa. The Stellenbosch and Paarl wine routes are probably the best places to start but the Constantia and Durbanville wine farms offer excellent opportunities too. Stellenbosch alone has more than 150 tasting rooms, many of those offer food-and-wine pairings too. Learn more here.

Wine tasting
Mozambique – dive in the coral reefs off Bazarutu. Mozambique conjures up images of beach after beach although that is not strictly true. The country does have excellent swimming spots and beautiful beaches but scuba diving along the islands is a unique and fun thing to do. Do your scuba diving at Ponto do Ouro, Pemba, or Bazaruto and revel in the coral reefs and marine life of the Indian Ocean.

Bazarutu
Botswana – mokoro ride in the Okavango. Botswana is all about the wildlife experience. What with game parks and rivers, the Okavango Delta and 4x4 roads, it is wildlife at its absolute best. Game parks are not fenced and interaction with animals is a given.

Okavango
Kenya – experience the Wildebeest migration. During the months of July to October every year, a unique event takes place. The more than two million wildebeest in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania migrate to the Masaai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. In doing so, they have to cross the Mara and Grumeti Rivers and many animals lose their lives to crocodiles and other predators.

Wildebeest migration
Egypt – stand in awe of the majestic pyramids. The fascination with the ancient pyramids of Egypt is a long-standing one. The pharaohs built the pyramids to serve as their tombs. You can visit the Sphinx at Gaza or any other of the 80 or so pyramids that they built along the Nile River and Valley.

Egypt
Drakensberg, South Africa – hike the many nature trails. Pack your hiking boots, pitch a tent and spend your days hiking the many trails in the mountain. You will see San Paintings and some of the best scenery you can imagine. Snow covers the peaks in winter and the whole landscape is transformed. For more about fun places to go for vacation.

Drakensberg Mountain Sunsrise
South Pole – fly in for a short visit. It is possible to board a flight in Punta Arenas in Chile and fly to the South Pole. You can stand in the place where the 360 longitude lines meet and walk all over the world without boarding a plane or getting onto a boat.

South Pole
Siem Reap, Cambodia – explore 17th century temples. Siem Reap is the town in Cambodia from where you can get to the Angkor ruins. These old ruins are all that are left from the Khmer Kingdom; you can visit temples and intricate buildings at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Siem Reap
The Great Wall of China – fun places to go for vacation. The Great Wall of China is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It took long years to complete the wall; in fact, the building of the wall started in 220 B.C. and was only completed in the 17th century. The purpose was protection from the north and the total length of the Wall is an astonishing 20,000 km.

Great Wall of China
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia – dive the many wonders of the Reef. It is all in the name, the world's largest coral reef. Apart from the obvious natural beauty of the reef, there more than 3,000 reef systems and beaches galore. Read more.
Ayers Rock, Australian Outback – the spiritual place of the ancestors. Stand in awe at a sunrise or sunset at Ayers Rock, the massive sandstone rock in the Red Desert in northern Australia. Do a camel tour or take a helicopter flip. Situated in the Uluru-KataTjuta National Park, it is considered to be 700 million years old.

Ayers Rock
Sydney Harbor, Australia – climb the steps and ladders in the harbor. This is a fun way to see Sydney and beyond. Climbs are available day and night and last from 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours. Guides accompany groups of 12-14 people and you should be of sound health not to mention somewhat fit. Learn more.

Sydney Harbor
Drive the outback of Australia. Pack a tent or tow a caravan, the choice is yours when you do a self-drive trip on the Golden Outback Drive Routes in Western Australia. A normal vehicle will take you far on this vacation but there are many back roads that you can only travel with a 4x4.

Golden Outback
Paris, France – get to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Gustave Eiffel is the French engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower and until 1930, it was the tallest man-made building in the world. Located on the banks of the Seine River the Eiffel Tower has become a world-renowned landmark in France.

Eiffel Tower
Eastern Alps – ski/learn to ski on the slopes. When you are skiing in the Eastern Alps, you will probably be in countries like Austria, Germany, or Italy. Have fun with a great downhill racer at Bad Kleinkirchheim, but if you are not there for the skiing, enjoy this place of great beauty, one with moving glaciers and flower-covered meadows as soon as spring arrives.

Skiing in Bad Kleinkirchheim
Budapest, Hungary – walk the labyrinth under Buda Castle. Although the labyrinth is 6 miles in length only one mile is open for use to the public. There are caves and cellars beneath Castle Hill and together these form the labyrinth. The labyrinth served as a prison, hospital, and harem to name a few and none other than Count Dracula was incarcerated there at one time.

The Labyrinth, Buda Castle
Majorca, Island in Spain – ride one of the many MB trails. Mountain biking in Majorca will set you on a discovery trip of beaches, interesting trails, and hilltops loaded with views. The trails are better suited to the experienced cyclist who will thrive on the rocky terrain interspersed with a bit of soil covering. Bring your own bike or rent one on the spot.

MTB scenery in Majorca
Malta, an archipelago in the Mediterranean –swim and dive in the clear waters. Dive the caves and wrecks in the clear waters off the islands for a fun vacation. Depths of dives vary and you can take a scuba diving course if you do not know the ropes. Go with a group or dive with a friend - no other way is acceptable. If you are not into diving, go for the beaches and swimming or discover the history of the islands.

Malta
Scotland – take a whisky tour. Scotland is synonymous with whisky (spelt without the “e”) and you can take a tour with a guide who will tell you everything there is to know about the drink. Go behind the scenes at the distilleries and see how they produce one of the world’s most popular drinks. Afterwards you can do a tasting.

Scotland Whisky Tours
Ireland – Giant's Causeway. The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is a dream come true for artists many of whom have painted and sketched this natural phenomenon. These basalt columns are the result of volcanic activity and dates back millions of years.

Giant's Causeway
Germany – attend the October Beer Festival. The German October Beer Festival is the largest folk festival in the world. It takes place every year in Munich, Bavaria and lasts for 16 days. Drink beer to your heart’s delight and why not, everyone else is doing it!

Oktober Fest
Yosemite National Park, California – embrace the great outdoors with horseback riding and rock climbing. Discover the beauty, diversity, and wildlife of the Yosemite Park. The park has many natural waterfalls and activities like hiking and horse riding will bring you in close proximity to many of them. Easily accessible from Los Angeles and San Francisco the Park is a wildlife destination for fatigued city dwellers and nature lovers alike.

Yosemite National Park
Glacier National Park, Montana – cross-country skiing. The Glacier National Park is a haven for hikers and cross-country skiers, 740 miles of trails see to that. Also called the “Backbone of the World” by Native Americans, the Park is a place of mountains lakes, and forests, not to mention the glaciers dating back 10,000 years.

Glacier National Park
Steamboat Springs, Colorado - skiing and hiking in the mountain. Ski activities include lessons for children as young as three years old. Take the family to the Rough Rider Basin for a look at the tee pees of the Old West or hop onto a horse-drawn sleigh for a ride through the park. There are also natural hot springs for winding down after a day of excitement. More about this fun place to go for vacation.

Steamboat Springs Skiing
Beartooth Pass, Wyoming – the motor cycle ride of your life. Take you motor cycle on the twists and turns of the Beartooth Pass; you are likely to see many of your fellow riders doing the exact same thing. The panorama is an attraction, there is that, but the ride itself will call you back for more repeatedly.

Beartooth Pass
New Orleans - go to the Mardi Gras and visit the French Quarter. Fun places to go for vacation include a visit to New Orleans. A Mardi Gras is a carnival that started in France at the turn of the 1700s and the now famous one in New Orleans had its humble beginnings in 1718. Become part of the parades, the music, and the people; go to one at least once in your life.

Mardi Gras
Disneyland – fun places to go for vacation for the kids. A visit to Disneyland is a dream for many children and many of their parents too. The enormity of the set-up and the abundance of well-loved characters is a draw card that few little ones can resist. Read here.

Disneyland
Grand Canyon, Arizona – night skies, rock formations and river rides. You can choose your river trip on smooth or white water, if either still scares the hell out of you, you can settle for the day- and nighttime vistas. Rivertrips are anything from one to 25 days long, it all depends on your level of adrenaline.

Grand Canyon, Arizona
Hawaii - Oahu, Hawaii – a kayak paddle. This place is all about the sea and the beaches, white sand and clear water. Hire a kayak and explore the islands or go around in circles just for the fun of it. You can also just sit under a palm tree and watch the day go by.

Oahu, Hawaii
Tanque Verde Ranch, Sonoran Desert – riding opportunities and lessons. This ranch offers a variety of activities for individuals and families who want to embrace a desert experience. It is not all about horses although a large part of it is. Go on riding excursions or take riding lessons if your riding is not up to standard.

Tanque Verde Ranch Riding
Circus Cirus, Las Vegas – circus pleasure at all times. When you are looking for fun places to go for vacation, you should definitely visit the resort with the permanent circus and revel in the antics of the performers. Watch jugglers, trapeze acts, and other acrobats put their lives on the line to perform for you. You can of course also hop into the casino for another kind of fun.
Treesort, Oregon – climb into the trees and cross a suspension bridge to get to your sleeping quarters. This is all about where you sleep, and if you are bored with the run of the mill resort, hotel, or camping facilities, why not sleep in the trees like Tarzan.

Treesort, Oregon
Space Center Houston - spend a day at the space station. Ever since the first man landed on the moon, man was fascinated by space travel. You can get a feel of what it is like to train for and travel to destinations off planet by visiting the Space Center in Houston, Texas. This is great for school groups as an educational program is also in place.

Space Center Houston
Buenos Aires – learn to tango. There might be things that you cannot find in Buenos Aires but dancing the tango is not one of them. Okay, if you have not yet learned to dance the dance of dances, do not despair, you will find many people in Argentina who would be willing to teach you, it is after all as good as a national sport. Learn the ropes, the rules, the codes, and how long your shoes will last…..

The Tango
Mocha Picchu, Peru – walk in the footsteps of the Incas. This 15^th century Inca site with its locale 2,500 meters above sea level was built by the Incas only to be abandoned 100 years later. As with the pyramids of Egypt, alien intervention in the construction of the site has been doing the rounds like forever. There are also indications of human sacrifice by the Incas.

Mocha Picchu, Peru
Swing at the end of the world, Ecuador. Another of the fun places to go for vacation is Casa del Arbol, a station with the sole purpose to monitor the volcano, Mt. Tungurahua. The station in its entirety is a wooden house-like structure built in a tree, and attached to a branch of the tree is a crude swing that takes you over the edge of the canyon as it swings back and forth.

Casa del Arbol, Ecuador
Amazon, Peru – canopy walk. What a way to get a glimpse of the Amazon, to walk through the treetops on a canopy walk of a lifetime. The system that provides the walk consists of two towers connecting seven hanging bridges.

The Canopy Walk, Amazon
Portland, Oregon – visit The International Rose Test Garden. If you like flowers and roses in particular, go to the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park. The best time to view the more than 10,000 roses on display is in the months May to September. Tours are not expensive and this will be the best way to get all the interesting snippets of the roses and the garden.

International Rose Test Garden
Madison, Georgia – visit a ranch. Visit a horse farm like the Southern Cross Guest ranch and learn all about horses. The ranch still offers old-fashioned Southern hospitality and with 50 Paint and Quarter horses on the farm, you will have ample riding opportunities.

Madison, Georgia
Tucson, Arizona – watch the stars at the observatory. The Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona is home to a large collection of optical and radio telescopes, the largest in fact worldwide. There is a museum, exhibits, educational programs, and a visiting center and opportunities for you to become involved the world of stargazing.

Kitt Peak National Observatory
Cancun, Mexico - visit the Interactive Aquarium. At the Interactive Aquarium in Cancun, Mexico you can swim with the dolphins and touch a stingray or turtles. A safety cage will bring you within feeding distance of a shark. Have fun!

Interactive Aquarium, Cancun
San Diego, California – visit LEGOLAND. There are a number of LEGOLAND Discovery Centers around the globe. As certain as a LEGO set is a dream for many young boys as certain is the fact that they will still be fascinated by this very thing when they are grown up. Fathers and sons will both enjoy a visit to LEGOLAND where these toy building blocks have been used to construct a variety of scenarios. There are also cinematic experience and rides.

Legoland
Bahamas, Caribbean - visit the 700 islands. The 700 islands of the Bahamas are scattered over a large archipelago of about 100,000 square miles. The islands are calcium carbonate pure and simple, and there are large ones such as Long Island but others are very small. Dive the reefs, swim in the water, or walk the pristine beaches but have a fun holiday!

The beauty of the Bahamas
Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the Everglades. See the Everglades with a Swamp Buggy Adventure or go on a boat tour to the 10,000 islands. You can also navigate the waterways by means of a kayak of Cano. Maybe you find the swamp too creepy, if so, you can go fishing or ride a bicycle.

Everglades
Dublin, Ireland – the Viking Splash Tour. Ireland has many fun places to go for vacation; the Viking Splash Tour is one. The tour is on land and on water by way of an amphibian craft. Put on your Viking headdress and off you go.

Viking Splash Tour
Nashville, Tennessee – go to a Country Music Festival. Nashville is all about country music, so whether you want to listen to music in a bar or go to the Country Music Festival, the fact is, you will be surrounded by it if even only from the nearest street corner. So, enjoy!

Country Music Festival
Marrakech, Morocco – explore the ancient city. Marrakech is a well-known city in Morocco along with Casablanca, Tangier, and Fes. In Marrakech, you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, where old meets new. Marrakech is a walled city filled with mosques, tombs, palaces, and historic old buildings and the sights alone will set your heart afire. Do a belly dance, go ride a camel in the Sahara Desert, and stay in a Riad (a traditional Moroccan house) in Medina.

Morocco
Costa Rica – Southern America. The absolute best part of Costa Rica is its jungles and no less than a quarter of the country’s forests are protected areas. These rain-forests teem with monkeys, birds, and other wildlife not to mention a sea of plant life – a paradise for outdoor lovers. In Costa Rica, you can choose which side of the country you want to go for a swim as it borders both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. If you want to compare beaches, you can do so within a span of 3 hours, the time it takes to drive from coast to coast.

Costa Rica Jungle
Prague, Czech Republic - Beer & Czech Tapas Trail. Say the name Prague, and many people would queue to go. Firstly, is it an old city with all of the old buildings and museums that you would expect to see, but it is also one of the fun places to go for vacation. Put four hours aside for the Beer & Tapas Trail and be prepared to get a taste of the very best locally made beer. This trail surely ranks tops for fun places to go for vacation for adults.

Beer and Tapas Trail in Praque