Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Beautiful Places to Visit

Built in the late 1800s, the Neuschwanstein Castle in the state of Bavaria in southeast Germany was meant to be the private retreat of the reclusive King Ludwig II of Bavaria, but he died before it was completed. The castle was opened to the public in 1886 and it has seen over 60 million visitors since then. The Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the Romanesque Revival style and was the inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty castle. The castle is one of the most popular in Europe and currently sees over 1.3 million visitors a year and as many as 6,000 per day in the summer months. The castle overlooks the Hohenschwangau valley and is near the tourist town of Fussen where accommodation can be found.

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Gullfoss (Golden Falls), Iceland

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Beautiful Places to Visit

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One of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland, the Gullfoss is a 2-tiered waterfall with a total height of 32m (105ft). Also known as the Golden Falls, the Gullfoss is part of the Hvítá river. Nearby attractions include the Haukadalur geysers and Þingvellir national park. Together, these 3 sites are called the Golden Circle. Because of the popularity of the falls there is hotel accommodation nearby, but most visitors opt to stay in Reykjavík and visit the falls on the Golden Circle day trip.

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Mount Hood, Oregon, USA

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Beautiful Places to Visit

Towering over nearby Portland, Oregon, is the Majestic Mount Hood. It stands 3,429 meters (11,249 feet) tall and is home to 12 glaciers. Mount Hood has 6 ski resorts: Timberline, Mount Hood Meadows, Ski Bowl, Cooper Spur, Snow Bunny and Summit. Timberline is the only year-round ski-lift in all of North America. Mount Hood is a dormant volcano, but it is consider the volcano most likely to erupt in Oregon with a 7% chance of eruption in the next 30 years. It is popular with climbers in addition to skiers, and about 10,000 people reach its summit yearly. Hikers can enjoy trekking on the Timberline Trail which circumnavigates the mountain, and the Pacific Crest Trail also passes by via the Timberline Trail. Most of the ski resorts have beautiful lodges to stay in, and any kind of accommodation can be found in the city of Portland, 124 km (77 miles) away. There are also many small towns in the area that offer some accommodation, including Government Camp, the closest town to the ski resorts.

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Crane Beach, Barbados

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Beautiful Places to Visit

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Crane Beach, on the Atlantic coast of the Caribbean island of Barbados, is a fantastic wide white sand beach that is popular with honeymooners. The beach used to be a harbor, and the name “Crane” Beach came about because of the large ship loading crane that was at the top of the cliff overlooking the beach. Today, Crane Beach is called one of the 10 best beaches in the world. With it powder soft pink sands and incredibly blue ocean, it’s easy to see why. On the cliff above the beach stands The Crane Resort & Residences, a good option for those seeking high-end accommodation. Cheaper accommodation can also be had nearby.