September 2015
Abraham Hostels Abraham Tours Angkor Wat Anza-Borrego Arizona astrophotography Austria Avenches Baja California Sur Barstow Bern Bethlehem Bishop Borrego Springs Budapest Buellton Caledonian Canal Caledonian Discovery California Cambodia Caribbean castles Central California Chania Chicago Christmas Christmas markets Civil War Clearwater Colorado Conejo Valley Crete customs Dana Point Dead Sea Death Valley Denver dog friendly Dublin Eastern California Edinburgh El Paso Essigbrätlein Europe European river cruise Flagstaff Florida Food Tour food travel Georgia (Country) Gergeti Trinity Church Germany golf goTenna Gothenburg Grand Canyon Greece Hanoi Highway 395 Hike Hostel hotel review Hungary Illinois Ireland Israel jet lag Kakheti Kansas Kingman Kiruna La Paz Lake Geneva Lausanne layover Louisiana Lucerne luxury travel Luzern Maine Mammoth Lakes Manassas Mexico Michelin Middle East Missouri Monarch Beach Golf Links Moosehead Lake Moosehead Pinnacle Pursuit Munich Murten New Mexico New Orleans New Year's Eve New Zealand night photography Nuremberg Oklahoma Orange County Oregon Oregon City Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory other packing Palestine Photography Photos Prince William County Puerto Penasco Puerto Rico review road trip Route 66 Salton Sea San Diego San Diego Travel & Adventure Show Scotland Scotland Cruise Scotland Highlands Scottish Highlands Sighnaghi Southern California St. Petersburg St. Regis Monarch Beach Sunrise Sweden Swedish Lapland Switzerland Tbilisi Tel Aviv Texas Thailand things to do in Denver Tijuana travel tips United Kingdom Vietnam Viking Ocean Cruises Viking River Cruises Virginia Volaris walking tours weekend getaway Wildflowers winter travel Yuma Zurich

Milford Sound Fiordland National Park New Zealand
Photo Credit: brewbooks via Compfight cc
For the thrill seekers and budget backpackers, New Zealand is a haven in the southern hemisphere. However, while the adventurous adrenaline junkies are bungee jumping off bridges, travelers looking for a different kind of enjoyment are indulging in a glass of fine wine in the most luxurious of accommodation settings. New Zealand is more than just a place for active, outdoor experiences. There are many experiences for luxury travelers to enjoy in this part of the world. Some of the best luxurious experiences across New Zealand are detailed below.

Take a Cruise in Rotorua


The North Island is filled with mystical wonders in a breathtaking landscape. Among the 18 majestic lakes in Rotorua, Lake Rotoiti is the perfect backdrop to a luxury sailing cruise.  Sipping on a glass of chilled New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and gently making your way down the flat waters of the picturesque lake is certainly a way to create unforgettable memories. The sailing cruises dock for a few hours at the famous hot thermal pools at Manupirua Springs, geothermal wonders that are only accessible by boat.

Exploring in Style Mt. Cook Mackenzie 


While adrenaline seekers zoom down snow-capped mountains on skis, you can watch them from way up high at the Hermitage Hotel. Enjoy an indulgent high tea while soaking in the views through the panoramic windows and spoiling yourself with some afternoon treats in the form of top quality cakes, hot coffee or tea, and then a glass of wine for later.

Akaroa Bed and Breakfast


Akaroa New Zealand

For a coastal retreat in an indulgent bed and breakfast, Akaroa is the perfect destination. An hour drive from Christchurch and easily accessible with a car rental from Hertz in Christchurch, Akaroa is a quaint port city with a classy French influence. This town boasts stunning harbor views and historic buildings as the setting of your lavish weekend getaway.

Helicopter Tour Over Milford and Doubtful Sound


The average tourist takes a boat tour around the sounds of the South Island – the luxury traveler does it in a helicopter. Fiordland National Park is 1.2 million hectares in size so it only makes sense to soar above it to really take it all in. With such breathtaking scenery of snow-capped mountains and picture-perfect lakes below you and a champagne-filled glass in front of you during your alpine peak picnic, life doesn’t get much better than this luxurious experience in New Zealand.

Sponsored Post

Taking a Break Dog Sledding Outdoor Winter Activities Sweden's Lapland

We traveled to Swedish Lapland in hopes of seeing and photographing the Northern Lights.  But, since there was no guarantee we would see the Northern Lights, we decided to also plan some exciting outdoor winter activities so if our search for the Northern Lights was unsuccessful, we’d still have a great adventure trying some other once-in-a-lifetime experiences during our visit to northern Sweden.  (Be sure to watch the video of all four of our winter outdoor activities at the end of this article.) 

Moose Safari on Horseback


Blida the Icelandic Horse Ofelas Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

I keep seeing pictures of Icelandic horses all over the internet, probably because so many travel bloggers have been writing about Iceland lately.  Icelandic horses are beautiful creatures and I’ve wanted to see them in person myself.  I thought I would have to wait until we finally made it to Iceland, so I was surprised to learn there are some Icelandic horses in Sweden too.

Ofelas Farm Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

OfelaÅ¡ is a small outdoor adventure company specializing in Icelandic horseback adventures through Swedish Lapland a short distance west of Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi.  OfelaÅ¡ has Icelandic horses which they imported from Iceland.  The name of the company, OfelaÅ¡, is a Sámi word meaning guide.  Swedish Lapland is also known as Sápmi, the land of the Sámi people, and the Sámi culture is very important to many of the tour providers in Lapland, including OfelaÅ¡.

Ofelas Moose Safari Path Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

OfelaÅ¡ offers a number of tour options.  We chose the moose safari on horseback.  We were picked up in the morning at the ICEHOTEL and driven to the OfelaÅ¡ farm.  (We've written previously about what it's like to stay at Sweden’s ICEHOTEL.)  We were walked out to meet the Icelandic horses and our guide Jenny picked the perfect horses for each of us.  I was paired with Blida and Romeo was paired with Fengur.

Blida Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

We walked our horses into the stalls for a little bonding time.  We were each given a brush so we could brush our horses thoroughly.  Blida looked a little suspicious of me at first, possibly wondering what this Southern California girl was doing in the snow-covered land of northern Sweden, but she seemed to warm up to me during the brushing.

Swedish Moose Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

After the brushing session, we saddled up our horses and led them out to the yard.  Jenny gave us a quick lesson before we headed out into the forest to hunt for moose.

Moose in the Path Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

The moose safari was beautiful and actually relaxing.  The horses walked along the snowy trail through forest trees as we kept an eye out for moose.  The ride was very quiet so we didn’t scare the moose away.  I hoped to see one or two moose, so I was surprised by how many we actually saw.

Icelandic Horses Rolling in the Snow Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

After we finished our ride, we removed our horses’ saddles and bridles and watched as they rolled around in the snow.  

Ofelas Lunch Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

We then headed inside for a lovely lunch of soup, reindeer meat, potatoes, vegetables and warm lingonberry juice.  Warm lingonberry juice is a staple in Swedish Lapland during the winter and something we looked forward to every day.

Swedish Moose Safari Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

The tour takes about five hours from start to finish if starting from Kiruna, and six hours if starting from the ICEHOTEL.  OfelaÅ¡ offers transfers and they also provide helmets, warm outdoor clothing, boots, and gloves.  However, if you’re staying at the ICEHOTEL, I suggest just using the winter outdoor clothing provided by the hotel.  Tours can be booked directly through OfelaÅ¡ or through the ICEHOTEL.

Snowmobiling


Snowmobiles Under Northern Lights Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

Neither Romeo nor I had ever been snowmobiling before, so we thought the perfect place to try snowmobiling for the first time was Swedish Lapland.  But we did have an ulterior motive for our snowmobiling adventure.  We wanted to see the Northern Lights!

We traveled to Sweden to see the Northern Lights.  But we knew seeing the Northern Lights wasn’t guaranteed so we wanted to plan lots of fun outdoor activities in case we didn’t see them.  Our snowmobiling tour was hopefully going to cover two activities in one, snowmobiling and photographing the Northern Lights.

Kiruna Guidetur offers a lot of different winter and summer tours.  One of those is an aurora expedition which combines snowmobiling at night with hunting for the Northern Lights.

Snowmobiling Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

We were picked up again at the ICEHOTEL and driven to the snowmobile garage not very far away.  We donned our helmets and goggles then received a lesson on riding snowmobiles.  I decided to leave the driving up to Romeo and I would just be a passenger on the back.

Driving through snow-covered Lapland at night was a very different experience.  It’s very quiet except for the sound of the engines.  It was also surprisingly easy to see the trail ahead with just the light of our snowmobile headlamps. 

Snowmobile Under the Northern Lights Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

We drove for quite a while before arriving at our destination in the Torne River valley, actually on top of the frozen river.  We lucked out and not only had a fun ride but also saw one of the most spectacular Northern Lights shows ever.

For more Northern Lights pictures, see our article Norther Lights: How to Photograph Them, Where to See Them.

Dinner in Sami Cabin Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

After the Northern Lights finally decided to take a rest, we trudged up the hill to Kiruna Guidetur’s Sámi cabin for a warm meal of lingonberry juice and reindeer stew followed by a dessert.

After dinner, we got back on our snowmobiles and rode back to the garage, still feeling on top of the world because of the Northern Lights show we had just witnessed.

Snowmobiling with Kiruna Guidetur Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

The aurora expedition tour with dinner takes 4.5 hours though I think ours was a little longer because none of us wanted to leave, including our guide Finn.  Hotel transfers are provided as well as helmets, winter overalls, gloves, and boots.  Drivers need to have a driver’s license.

Reindeer Sledding


Reindeer Sledding Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

When I learned there was reindeer sledding available in Swedish Lapland, nothing would keep me from playing Santa Claus, not even the expensive price tag. 

Lapland is the original home of the Scandinavian aboriginal people, the Sámi.  The Sámi people were nomadic and relied on reindeer to provide transportation for both people and possessions.  Joining a reindeer sledding tour with Nutti Sámi Siida provides visitors to Swedish Lapland the opportunity to learn more about these indigenous people.

Feeding Reindeer Moss Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

After being picked up yet again from the ICEHOTEL, we were taken to Nutti Sámi Siida’s changing room before heading to the reindeer camp, which is very close to the ICEHOTEL. 

We entered the reindeer enclosure to meet the reindeer and feed them some reindeer moss.  Then one of our guides lassoed the reindeer which would be pulling our sleds.  Each person drives their own sled pulled by one reindeer.  The sleds are made in the traditional style used by the Sámi people.

Reindeer Sledding Instructions Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

Our drive through the snow started out tame enough.  The reindeer trotted slowly along the trail, pulling us along behind.  At one point the lead reindeer didn’t want to go.  My reindeer decided it didn’t want to wait and tried to go around.  I didn’t have the brake on well enough, so when the sled was pulled off the trail into the soft snow there was nothing I could do but hang on or jump off.  Jump off I did, face first into the snow.  That’s when the camera got put away, after I cleared away the snow that had made its way inside the case.

Reindeer Sledding Trail Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

The reindeer decided they were ready to head off again and we had a very pleasant ride through the snow and trees.

We stopped on the frozen Torne River so everyone could have a rest, including the reindeer.  It was after our rest that things got a little hairy.

After our rest we all boarded our sleds again.  The lead reindeer took off, going rather fast.  The rest of the reindeer followed suit.  This wouldn’t have been too much of a problem, as we were riding along the wide open straightaway of the frozen river.  The problem was the 90 degree turn into the forest ahead. 

I’m going to do my best imitation of a race caller announcing a race because that really seems the most fitting way to tell this part of the story.

Romeo is in the lead, his reindeer running.  Katherine’s reindeer just took off, going faster than she wants.  The reindeer behind Katherine has decided it does not want to stay in formation.  It’s taking off, quickly gaining on Katherine and passing on the left.  It has now passed Katherine and is quickly gaining on Romeo.  They are now running neck and neck.  How Romeo is holding on to his phone videoing this thing is beyond me!  Bad news, they’re approaching the turn.  How are they both going to make this turn where the trail narrows to one sled wide?  They’re still neck and neck.  Whoa!  The two sleds just knocked into each other!  Somehow they’ve both remained upright!  Romeo better watch out for those huge antlers.  Those things look dangerous!  This race is going to be a close call!

The passing of the reindeer spooked my reindeer and it started going even faster.  I saw the turn coming up ahead and I just knew there was no way we were going to make the turn.  Sure enough, as my reindeer rounded the bend, my sled skidded off the path into the soft snow and tipped over onto its side.  The next few seconds felt as if they occurred in slow motion as I flew into the soft snow, turning my body mid-air so I could see the reindeer and sled fast approaching from behind and trying my best to make sure my body got out of the way.  I actually made eye contact with the girl riding behind me.  Thankfully the snow was soft and I wasn’t touched by the other sled.  However, imagine Romeo’s horror when he saw my reindeer running through the forest dragging behind it an empty sled bouncing on its side.

Reindeer Sledding Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

Another girl got thrown from her sled at the next curve and the two of us trudged through the snow to meet the rest of the group, laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole thing and glad neither of us was hurt.  We boarded our sleds again and this time had a slow and uneventful return to the camp.

When we got back to the camp the reindeer were released into the enclosure and we entered a traditional Sámi tent for lunch.  Lunch was lingonberry juice, of course, and a really delicious reindeer taco, a pita type bread filled with sautéed reindeer meat and lingonberries.  We sat around the fire and continued to laugh at our crazy adventure of the day.

Sami Tent Lunch Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

Let me be clear that our experience was very much not normal.  Usually the reindeer sled excursions are slow and relaxed.  It is a good reminder that when you join tours involving animals, you must remember those animals have a mind of their own.

The reindeer sled excursion takes about five hours.  Nutti Sámi Siida provides hotel transfers and warm clothing including boots and gloves.  They also offer shorter (and less expensive) 3.5 hour tours that include driving a reindeer sled around a short track rather than the trail ride through the forest.  Tours can be booked through the company directly or through the ICEHOTEL.

Dog Sledding



So you may not be surprised to learn that I was a little nervous going into our dog sledding tour the day after our reindeer sledding adventure.

We got to the dog kennels and found three sleds and their teams ready to go.  When we were introduced to our team we were surprised to see them all laying down in the snow practically napping.  Romeo thought that was a sign they were going to go crazy once it was time to take off.  That wasn’t exactly what happened.


The beginning of our dog sledding tour was a comedy of errors.  Our dogs just did not want to go.  We would be sledding and then one of them would decide it wanted to lay down and take a nap.  The others would try to get around it, tangling up the lines.  We were constantly stopping to try to straighten them out.  To be honest, I was partially hoping we would just have to end the tour as I was a little nervous about being thrown off another sled.

We sat on the frozen river for quite a while waiting for someone to bring some replacement dogs.  While Romeo stood on the brake, I went to the front of the pack to hold them in place, not that they really needed holding as it seemed like all they wanted to do was go to sleep.  

Me and Hedwig Outdoor Winter Activities in Sweden's Lapland

During our wait, I fell in love with a dog named Hedwig.  Hedwig was one of the lead dogs.  She was smaller than the rest and when I sat at the front she immediately laid her head on my lap and fell asleep.  I am a sucker for dogs and I fell for her hook, line, and sinker.  I pet her, she licked me, we were a match made in heaven.

The crazy thing is it only took replacing one dog to get us going again.  While sitting around on the snow might sound like an inconvenience, what made me really happy from the experience was that it was clear if these dogs didn’t want to run, they didn’t run.  They only ran if they wanted to.


Once one of the dogs was replaced all of our pack were up and rearing to go.  From then on we were flying along the river and through the forest.  The experience was so much fun I got back my courage again and even took a turn at driving the sled in one of the easier parts. 

Riding a dog sled is a lot of work!  I was surprised by how athletic sledding is.  You need to shift your weight, sometimes even shifting your feet and entire body weight from one side to the other.  You need to brake a little when going downhill so the sled doesn’t run into the dogs, and on the uphill sections you need to get off and jog to help the dogs out.


Our guide Luc has been working with sled dogs for decades and was an excellent leader.  He also made up for the delay by extending our tour longer than planned so we could enjoy the entire experience.  We enjoyed a quick lunch of cream of mushroom soup (not the Campbell’s canned kind) before heading out again.  Our dogs had a nice rest and a bite to eat and when we were ready to go again, we could see how much the dogs loved to run.  They were barking and howling and jumping, ready to take off.

I am pleased to report there was never a worry of being thrown off the dog sled and we had the greatest time.  The only sad part was having to say goodbye to Hedwig and the rest of our team.


Our tour was provided by Jukkasjärvi Vildmarks Turer, but we booked it through Kiruna Guidetur.   We chose the Musher for a Day tour, a 4.5 hour tour which is the most authentic experience as two people drive a sled with six dogs.  If you don’t feel comfortable driving your own sled, you can join the Lapland Experience tour, a 2.5 hour tour where the tour guide drives and up to four people sit on the sled.  Similar to the other tours, winter coveralls, gloves, and boots are provided along with transfer service.  Before we left a friend suggested bringing a scarf to wrap around our noses and mouths.  She warned me sled dogs can relieve themselves while on the move, and the only thing blocking the flight path is your face.  Luckily our dogs chose to stop before doing such things, but there was the occasional smell that wafted backwards which a scarf can help block.


Our four days in Sweden’s Lapland were a complete success if I do say so myself.  We witnessed two spectacular Northern Lights shows and spent our days and one night experiencing exciting outdoor winter activities we had never done before.  Even if we hadn’t seen the Northern Lights our trip to Swedish Lapland would have been an amazing experience.



Thank you to OfelaÅ¡ and Kiruna Guidetur for making this post possible.  As always, all opinions are my own.


Grand Canyon Pictures South Rim Late Afternoon

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a World Heritage Site.  This geological wonder is one mile deep, 18 miles wide, and 277 river miles long.  Some visitors to the Grand Canyon only spend a few hours there, driving into the park, peering down into the big hole in the ground in front of them, and then going on their way.  But there is so much more to see and so many things to do at the Grand Canyon you can easily spend a few days there if not even longer.

Capture the Grandeur in a Photograph


Travel the World at the Grand Canyon Things to Do at the Grand Canyon

Photographing the Grand Canyon adequately will probably be one of the most difficult things to do.  Its magnificence is its grandiose size, which is hard to convey in a 4x6 picture.  Take your time, be sure to enjoy the view in a way that you’ll always have it in your memory bank, and keep your eye out for photo opportunities.  Early morning and late afternoon are best for photos because the low position of the sun allows for shadows and depth.  Also photos that show perspective, like your traveling companion looking like a small speck on top of a cliff, give a sense of the sheer massiveness.

Walk the South Rim Trail


Grand Canyon Golden Hour Things to Do at the Grand Canyon

Most visitors to the Grand Canyon visit Mather Point near the park entrance and Grand Canyon Village.  Mather Point does provide an impressive view of the Grand Canyon, but it can also get very crowded.  To really get a sense of the splendor of the Grand Canyon, but the easy way, walk the South Rim Trail, which provides seven miles of level hiking, some of it paved, from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest, with multiple viewpoints along the way.  If you’re traveling with pets, note that this trail is dog-friendly as it never enters the inner canyon.  If you’re not traveling with dogs, you can hike as far as you want and then catch one of the park's shuttle buses back to the village.

Drive Desert View Drive


Grand Canyon View Things to Do at the Grand Canyon

While the South Rim Trail follows the edge of the Grand Canyon from Grand Canyon Village to the west, Desert View Drive follows the rim for 23 miles to the east entrance.  Viewpoints along the way include Grandview Point which, as its name suggests, provides one of the grandest views of the Grand Canyon, and Desert View and Watchtower, where you can climb a stone tower which was built in the 1930s as an overlook.  Also along Desert View Drive are the Tusayan Ruins and Museum, an 800-year-old Pueblo Indian site.

Watch the Sunset


Grand Canyon Sunset Things to Do at the Grand Canyon

There are certain places in the world at which it is essential to watch the sunset.  The Grand Canyon is one of those places.  Yavapai Point is one of the best viewpoints from which to watch the sun set over the Grand Canyon.  Get there early and grab a rock to sit on before the crowds arrive, because arrive they will.  If you have a cute, tiny little white dog with you wearing a jacket, he’ll be the most popular thing at the Point.  While waiting for the sunset, our dog Charlie was the star of the show, surrounded by Grand Canyon paparazzi shooting hundreds of pictures of him until the sun was ready for its performance.

Gaze at the Stars


Grand Canyon Stars Things to Do at the Grand Canyon
Photo Credit: Grand Canyon National Park via flickr cc
I have never seen so many stars as we saw one night at one of the pullouts along Desert View Drive (not even when we saw the Northern Lights, another of the seven natural wonders of the world).  Since there are no street lights and no big cities anywhere nearby to create light pollution, nighttime along the Grand Canyon is pitch black, providing the opportunity to see a sky filled with millions of stars.  It can also be a bit spooky to be out in the middle of nowhere in such complete darkness.

Look for Wildlife


Grand Canyon Elk Things to Do at the Grand Canyon

Because of the Grand Canyon’s large natural landscape, range of elevations, and protected status, it is quite likely you’ll spot some wildlife.  The biggest animals you’ll encounter are the elk found within Grand Canyon National Park which can weigh up to 1,000 pounds.  Be sure to keep a respectful distance.  When your wife shouts, “Stop the car!” it is probably not such a good idea to make a U-turn to get closer as it may spook the elk and make them ponder charging.  Other animals to steer clear of are mountain lions.   Somewhat less dangerous animals that may be spotted in the park are mule deer, bighorn sheep, and rock squirrels.

Hike into the Grand Canyon


Grand Canyon Colorado River Things to Do at the Grand Canyon

For a challenge and a closer look at the Grand Canyon, you can hike into the inner canyon along one of the many trails.  For a day hike, the Bright Angel Trail is a steep trail which can be made into an up to 12-mile roundtrip day hike.  The trail starts at Bright Angel Trailhead west of Bright Angel Lodge and ends at Plateau Point, which provides views of the Colorado River.  It is not recommended to try to hike all the way to the Colorado River and back in one day.  To go further into the Grand Canyon, you can obtain a permit and backpack overnight or join an organized hiking tour.

Ride a Mule


Grand Canyon Mule Ride Things to Do at the Grand Canyon
Photo Credit: iheartpandas via Compfight cc
A less arduous way to visit the inner Grand Canyon is to join a mule trip.  Mule trips are offered at both the South Rim and North Rim and they range from one-hour trips to overnight rides. 

Raft the Colorado River


Grand Canyon River Rafting Things to Do at the Grand Canyon
Photo Credit: Al_HikesAZ via Compfight cc
If you’re looking for an adrenaline-inducing Grand Canyon adventure, join a rafting tour along the Colorado River and get views of the Grand Canyon from the bottom up.  Whitewater rafting trips last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on how much of the river you want to travel and may also include hiking to or from the rim.  There are also some smooth-water half-day and full day trips. 

Fly Over the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Panoramic Things to Do at the Grand Canyon

For another adrenaline rush that provides a completely different view of the Grand Canyon, take to the sky with either a helicopter tour or an airplane tour.  Aerial tours of the Grand Canyon last anywhere from 15 minutes to all day. 

Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon


Banjo Paul Canyon Star Restaurant Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon

If you plan on experiencing many or all of the above things to do at the Grand Canyon, you’ll need to stay nearby.  There are a number of hotels within Grand Canyon National Park.  Along the South Rim are Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Yavapai Lodge.  There are also campgrounds on both rims and Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  Since we were traveling with our dogs, we chose to stay at the pet-friendly Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon in Tusayan, a short drive from the Grand Canyon South Entrance.  The hotel has a fun lodge-like Southwestern décor and a steak restaurant, Canyon Star, where Banjo Paul frequently performs, singing songs from all decades and all genres while strumming his banjo.

It’s hard to wrap your head around the huge expanse of this large hole in the ground, but dedicating a few days of your vacation to enjoy some of the many things to do at the Grand Canyon will be an experience that will last a lifetime. 

Sponsored by Grand Canyon Deals

This article includes affiliate links.  If you book through them there is no additional cost to you and it helps fund our travels so we can bring you more travel stories.


Travel the World: 10 fun things to do at the Grand Canyon during an Arizona vacation.

Chania and Snow Covered Mountains Things to Do in Chania Crete

Crete is Greece’s largest island and, therefore, has a number of cities and towns from which to choose.  Our trip to Crete was actually a last minute add-on to our off-road trip through Central Greece with Tripology Adventures.  A friend of ours told us his favorite Greek islands were Santorini and Crete, and he won me over with his description of the beautiful town of Chania, a quaint old fishing village with a gorgeous Venetian harbor.  Chania not only makes a great home base from which to explore Crete, there are also a number of things to do in Chania itself.  The Venetian quarter of Chania is chockfull of tourist attractions along with a mixture of Venetian and Turkish architecture.

Places to Visit in Chania on an Old Town Walk


Venetian Harbor and Lighthouse


Harbor and Lighthouse Things to Do in Chania Crete

Every town has a trademark uniquely its own, and Chania’s is its Venetian lighthouse.  The harbor was built by the Venetians in the 1300s.  While the harbor was originally built for commerce and pirate control, it is now used for mooring fishing boats.  The lighthouse was built at the entrance by the Venetians but was restored by the Egyptians in the early 1800s.  The lighthouse provides a fantastic foreground for Chania sunsets.

Exhibition of Ancient Naval Architecture (Shipyard MORO)


Minoa Maritime Museum of Crete Things to Do in Chania Crete

The Exhibition of Ancient Naval Architecture (Shipyard MORO) is part of the Maritime Museum of Crete and is housed in one of the converted Venetian shipyards.  The most important object on display here is the Minoa, a replica of a Minoan period ship from the 15th century B.C. which was built to sail from Crete to Athens for the 2004 Olympics.  The project was part of the Experimental Naval Archeological program and the ship was painstakingly built using tools and materials of the period.

Church of Agios Nikolaos


Church of Agios Nikolaos Things to Do in Chania Crete

The Church of Agios Nikolaos is an example of a Venetian Catholic church that was originally built with a bell tower but later had a minaret added during Turkish rule when the church was turned into a mosque.  The inside of the church is dominated by a huge bronze chandelier.

Agora


Agora Things to Do in Chania Crete

The Agora is Chania’s marketplace for fresh seafood, produce, and cheese, but there are also stalls selling souvenirs and tchotchkes.  Since the area surrounding this cross-shaped elevated building is filled with shops and outdoor stalls, it would be easy to miss if you didn’t know what you were looking for.  We had to laugh when the gentleman who helped us with our rental car told us about the market and said, “It’s over 100 years old.  That’s old for you guys, right?”  While Chania’s agora isn’t one of the oldest in Greece by far, for us Americans a market continuously running for over 100 years is quite a sight.  In 1980 the market was declared a protected monument by the Ministry of Culture.

Agora Fish Stall Things to Do in Chania Crete

While we love visiting markets, I sometimes feel uncomfortable strolling through, snapping pictures and not buying anything.  After all, what in the world are we going to do with a whole fish?  As we shyly admired the seafood on display, a gentleman who owned one of the seafood stalls came out to us and basically said, I know you’re tourists and not here to buy anything, but please come in with me and see what we have.  He showed us all the different types of fish he had for sale, explained what they were, and even showed us what he had in the back and in the refrigerator.  Even though he knew he wasn’t going to make a penny from us, he was proud to show us what he had and we were happy to admire.

The definition for the Greek word agora is a public open space used for assemblies and markets.  Now Chania’s agora has spread past the building into the streets surrounding, which are filled with shops and stalls where you can fill your need to shop.

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Chania


Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Chania Things to Do in Chania Crete

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral, also called the Church of Trimartiri, is located on the Plateia Mitropoleos.  This church was built in the mid-1800s on the site of a Venetian church which was converted by the Ottoman Turks into a soap factory.  An icon of the Virgin Mary was saved in the soap factory.  When the factory went out of business, the owner gave the land to the city again and a church was rebuilt.  The church is now filled with icons, including that original one of the Virgin Mary.  The church has three aisle, which is why it is also known as Trimartiri.

Mosque of Kioutsouk Hassan or Giali Tzamisi


The Mosque of Kioutsouk Hassan or Giali Tzamisi is the oldest Muslim building in Crete.  Venetian rule ended in Chania when the Ottoman Turks invaded.  Catholic churches were converted into mosques and new mosques were constructed.  Giali Tzamisi means the mosque of the seaside, as it was built right along the water.  Part of the mosque was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II and the building now serves as an exhibition hall.

Maritime Museum of Crete


The other part of the Maritime Museum of Crete is at the entrance of the port of Chania in the FIRKAS Fortress.  The fortress was built by the Venetians as both a guard and a prison.  As with everything else, it was later taken over by the Turks.  The museum walks visitors through the various periods of Crete’s history including the prehistoric, classical, and Byzantine periods and the Balkan Wars.  The fortress is where the Greek flag was raised in 1913 after the Balkan Wars when Crete celebrated their independence from Turkey and union with Greece.

Streets of Chania


Venetian Quarter Things to Do in Chania Crete

One of my least favorite cliché travel sayings is “get lost in the back streets of . . .,” so I’m not going to tell you to get lost in the back streets of Chania.  However, the zig-zagging labyrinth of cobblestone streets winding through Venetian and Turkish architecture are a big part of Chania’s charm and definitely worth taking the time to explore.  The Venetian quarter is a small, manageable area, and there are plenty of street signs, so it’s pretty easy to find yourself if you do get a little lost.

Places to Eat in Chania


Chrisostomos


Anchovies and Stamnagathi Chrisostomos Places to Eat in Chania Crete

Our absolute favorite restaurant in Chania was Chrisostomos, just a short walk from our hotel.  Both our hotel and the gentleman from our Chania car rental company suggested this restaurant and their suggestions were spot on. 

Chrisostomos serves traditional Cretan food, but they put a modern spin on their food.  You can get the traditional Greek foods like saganaki and Greek salad and moussaka, but the items we had mixed traditional local ingredients with flavors that would fit in at any fine dining restaurant around the world.

Chrisostomos Salad Places to Eat in Chania Crete

We started with the Chrisostomos salad, a welcome deviation from the daily Greek salad.  This flavorful salad is made with stamnagathi, a leafy green similar to chicory that mainly grows on the island of Crete, lettuce, green onion, dill, dry anthotyros cheese, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, Cretan dakos, and sweet and sour dressing.  We also had anchovies baked in a wood oven with tomato, green pepper, and onion in an olive oil and white wine sauce, with a side of more stamnagathi.

Giouvetsi Chrisostomos Places to Eat in Chania Crete

My entrée of choice was a special for the evening call giouvetsi.  Giouvetsi is a classic Greek baked dish, this one made with chicken and kritharaki (a Greek rice-shaped pasta) baked in tomato sauce and served with gruyere cheese on top.

Raki and Loukoumades Chrisostomos Places to Eat in Chania Crete

What made this meal even more fabulous was the price.  Our two appetizers, two entrees, and bottle of wine cost us about 50 euros, and then our meal was not only completed with the standard complimentary bottle of raki, but also a plate of sticky sweet loukoumades. 

Ta Neoria


Sunset Things to Do in Chania Crete

Like many places in the world, you can either have good food or you can have a good view.  However, it is possible to find a good restaurant along Chania’s harbor and have both.  Ta Neoria was recommended as a restaurant with a view that also serves good food by both our hotel and the restaurant at which we dined in the Splantzia neighborhood.  While the restaurants along the harbor are touristy, Ta Neoria seemed to be a restaurant that was also frequented by the locals in addition to the tourists.  Ta Neoria was also conveniently located just a few doors down from our hotel.

Octopus and Squid Ta Neoria Places to Eat in Chania Crete

We started with a Cretan salad, similar to Greek salad as it has tomato, cucumber, green pepper, olives, and onion, but a little different with the addition of Cretan rusk (kind of like croutons), cooked potato, and crumbled mizithra cheese instead of the chunk of feta.  Since it was our last night on the island of Crete, we enjoyed some seafood, including octopus and squid.  As is custom, our meal was completed with a bottle of raki and a selection of desserts.

Splantzia Neighborhood


Splantzia Neighborhood Places to Eat in Chania Crete

We were told that the Splantzia neighborhood, especially along Kallinikou Sarpaki, was where the locals go to dine, and when we walked through the web of cobblestone streets in the area it certainly appeared to be true.  We grabbed an outdoor table at one of the many restaurants along the street as there wasn’t one restaurant that was recommended over any other.  Be aware that restaurants in this area don’t serve seafood, which I found very surprising for a seaside town on an island.  Apparently if you want seafood, you stay along the harbor.  I think one of the reasons may be that the Greek waters are overfished, so seafood is actually quite expensive in Greece, even on the islands, and the restaurants in this area were selling good but inexpensive food.

Agora


We didn’t visit the Agora until our last day right before heading to the airport, so sadly didn’t realize it also had some tiny restaurants at which to dine.  Set amongst fresh seafood and produce, this is where I would like to eat in Chania next time.  The restaurants in the Chania Market include Pissas Restaurant, a seafood restaurant open 9:00-17:00, Stavros & Stamatis, a taverna serving traditional Cretan dishes starting at 4:00 in the morning, and Agapinis Restaurant, another traditional tavern open daily 4:00-16:00 and Sunday 4:00-9:00.

Places to Stay in Chania


Porto Veneziano Hotel Places to Stay Chania Crete

There are a number of Chania hotels, but during our research one of the hotels that appealed to us the most was Porto Veneziano Hotel.  Coincidentally, it turned out to be the same hotel our friend who had suggested Crete had stayed at with his wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary, though he hadn’t been able to remember the name.  Porto Veneziano Hotel is ideally located right on the Venetian harbor with a view of the lighthouse across the way.  Get a room with a balcony over the harbor and you will be presented with a stunning sunset every evening.

View from Balcony Porto Veneziano Hotel Places to Stay Chania Crete

Porto Veneziano Hotel’s rooms were recently renovated and are decorated in a way which matches its waterside location.  Rooms are simply adorned with white, navy blue, and light wood.  The rooms are on the small side, but never feel cramped.  Ours was a double sea view room, but there are some suites as well if you feel like you need more space.  


The bathrooms are also small, but space is utilized wisely so there is still room for an amply sized walk-in shower and there’s not only counter space beside the sink, there’s also a shelf below the sink so you can have all your toiletries in the bathroom.  The hotel also provides real hairdryers in the bathrooms, which is a pretty exciting amenity considering most hotels in Greece have hairdryers on the wall that look like a vacuum hose and work about as well.

Some other highly appreciated amenities in the rooms are full-length mirrors in the closet, a plethora of outlets for charging phones, camera batteries, etc., and Wi-Fi that works at all times anywhere in the room.  These might sound like standard amenities, but we stayed in some very nice hotels in Central Greece where we had to take turns with the outlets and walk down the hallway in pajamas to find a Wi-Fi signal.

Porto Veneziano Hotel Breakfast Places to Stay in Chania Crete

Porto Veneziano Hotel has a restaurant, bar, and breakfast room.  A pretty fantastic breakfast of a multitude of Greek pastries, yogurt, coffee, and fresh squeezed orange juice is offered every morning until noon.  If you don’t feel like going downstairs for breakfast, the hotel staff will even serve breakfast in your room for free.  One morning we were picked up for our Samaria Gorge hike before breakfast started, so instead the hotel packed us lunches to take with us on our hike, again for free.  If you feel like exploring Chania on two wheels, the hotel provides bicycles for guests to borrow.

Sunset from Porto Veneziano Chania Hotel Crete

I also have to mention the friendliness of the staff.  Before we even arrived, the hotel sent me a detailed email of things to do in Chania and the rest of Crete and places to eat in Chania.  During our stay everyone always had a smile at the ready.  When I asked about the best way to hike Samaria Gorge, they immediately offered to book us on an inexpensive tour, which meant no stress for us, and they took the time to explain everything we needed to know about the tour and our other options so we could make an educated choice.  They provided us with the packed lunch mentioned above, a service I had no idea the hotel offered.  When we were heading out for a drive to the beach, we were offered large beach towels to take with us.  When we walked into the hotel we were always greeted with a smile and a hello, and whenever we walked out we were also acknowledged and told to have a great day or a nice evening.  While I realize the front desk staff may have known we would be writing about the hotel, I witnessed this top level of customer service being given to other guests constantly as well.  There are certain hotels you visit in your lifetime which you look back upon fondly and wish you could visit over and over again.  Porto Veneziano Hotel is one of those hotels.

Chania Car Rental


You won’t need a rental car for Chania’s places of interest, but if you plan on getting out of town to visit some of the other sights of the island of Crete, you will need transportation.  We rented a car from AutoClub Car Rental, a Crete car rental company which rents cars out of the Chania airport but will also deliver your rental car anywhere on the island.  Porto Veneziano Hotel has a small private parking lot for guests to park free of charge.  If you can’t get one of those choice parking spots, there are public parking lots and street parking throughout town, including near Porto Veneziano Hotel.



Thank you to Porto Veneziano Hotel and AutoClub Car Rental for hosting our time in Crete and making this post possible.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Travel the World: A guide to places of interest and things to do in Chania on Greece’s island of Crete including places to eat and places to stay.

MKRdezign

Formulir Kontak

Nama

Email *

Pesan *

Diberdayakan oleh Blogger.
Javascript DisablePlease Enable Javascript To See All Widget