Monte Plata is an earthy, vibrant paradise that begins just an hour’s drive north of Santo Domingo and sits at 175 feet above sea level. This province’s scenery is spectacular—as you drive past lush pastures set against the Sierra de Yamasá and explore verdant, dense subtropical forests that seem to melt into the rivers below, you’ll revel in a kaleidoscope of greens, from the darkest olive to the brightest of jades.

Colorful homes dot the landscape along the drive to Monte Plata. Photo © Lebawit Lily Girma.

Monte Plata was founded in 1606 during colonial times, when the Spaniards relocated families from Monte Cristi and Puerto Plata to this area after destroying their hometowns to stop contraband activities taking place in the north. Monte Plata was named after these two areas. Primarily rural, the economy in this province is dominated by agriculture like sugar cane and cacao and livestock, which you can see as you drive past vast lands dotted with palm trees, horses, goats, and grazing cows.

The municipality of Bayaguana is home to the majority of Monte Plata’s waterfalls and river parks. Prepare to immerse yourself in a landscape you’ll find difficult to leave.

Visit Salto de Socoa

Located northwest of Bayaguana town, Monumento Natural Salto de Socoa is the easiest waterfall to access because its entrance is directly off the Autopista del Nordeste (highway 7) from Santo Domingo towards Samaná, and about 60 km north from Autopista de Las Americas. Approximately sixty-five feet tall, Salto de Socoa is a stunning single waterfall that empties into a circular jade pool. Framed with vegetation, rocks, and idyllic corners around the park, it feels like your very own Garden of Eden as butterflies, birds, (and a few mosquitoes) flutter about.

The drive from Santo Domingo to Salto Alto is the most scenic of all—particularly on the last highway stretch north of Monte Plata town towards the entrance. Prepare for a surprise when the air cools and the road is lined with pine trees and a rocky landscape akin to the Haitises National Park in Samaná (which makes sense, as the waterfall is between Santo Domingo and Samaná). It is without doubt one of the most beautiful drives in the Dominican Republic.

Salto de Socoa is easily accessed with an entrance off the highway—you’ll drive about two minutes along a manageable dirt road towards a gated entrance. An attendant will collect the fee, and open the gate for you to park your car safely inside. Another three-minute, pleasant hike down from the parking lot takes you through a beautiful tropical forest, down to a series of steps with solid wooden railings all the way down to the waterfall area. The hike back is steeper, so you’ll need to be in good health.

Past the shallow parts of the pool is a rope running along the surface to the other edge, to provide support for those who aren’t strong swimmers. Stick close to it and don’t venture far towards the waterfall. There are no changing rooms or benches, but plenty of rocks to keep your belongings dry or to change unseen.

Keep a safe distance from the waterfall at Salto de Socoa. Photo © Lebawit Lily Girma.

Lunch in Bayaguana

After visiting Salto Socoa in the morning, drive back towards the small, colorful town of Bayaguana for a Dominican lunch break. Relax on the outdoor patio at La Barrica (also known locally as Comedor Francis) across the Isla gas station, and order the plato dominicano of the day—rice, beans, and a meat choice—for a mere RD$160 per person. After lunch, take a few minutes to peek inside the Iglesia del Santo Cristo de los Milagros–a colonial church built in 1789 and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country. Legend has it that the image of Christ, the centerpiece inside the Church, was found in the 17th century by a young girl, and that after this discovery, her blind mother recuperated her sight. Believers flock here every year to pray for a miracle or to give thanks for one.

Iglesia Santo Cristo de los Milagros. Photo © Lebawit Lily Girma.

Visit Salto Alto

Approximately 30 minutes’ drive northeast from Bayaguana town, the most impressive and farthest of the waterfalls in Monte Plata, Salto Alto’s three cascades tumble down together from approximately 75-feet into a gigantic, wide-open pool below, to a backdrop of bluffs and tropical forest.

Getting there isn’t hard, as the improved Carretera Bayaguana-Sierra de Agua is nearly completed and road crews were finishing off the last portions this week. A gated entrance on the left side of the road will signal the way, and after paying the requisite RD$50 per person, you’ll drive down slowly a dirt, partially rocky path towards the parking lot to the falls. You won’t notice the slow drive because the scenery is green, lush, as it takes you into a private ranch.

Once at the falls, reached via a series of about 50 concrete steps, you’ll notice quickly that the beauty of Salto Alto’s waterfalls isn’t just the cascade–though it is a sight for sore eyes–if not its surroundings, flanked by cliffs covered in tropical plants, trees, and the sound of trickling water along the rocks. The entry into the water is easy and shallow, at ankle-depth, and deepens as you go along, until the rope which signals caution.

Equally beautiful is the woodsy area below the parking lot, where you’ll see a jade colored, calm river below with mini falls, and picnic tables for relaxation. If there are crowds below at Salto Alto, you could easily wait it out here in the shade.

Salto Alto is paradise. Photo © Lebawit Lily Girma.

Chill at Balneario Comate

Balneario Comate is just 1.85 miles or 3 km from town–you’ll pass the sign on the way up to Salto Alto. It’s a popular, typical Dominican-style balneario or river park with plenty of seating areas and an on-site bar and restaurant. But this balneario is as large of a setting as I’ve seen so far, set along the Rio Comate, tributary to the Ozama River. There are thatch huts for sitting areas, and below, a shallow river where locals relax along the banks, tube in the river (tubes are available on site), or simply sit atop the small rocks as mini falls tumble down. Others play dominoes with their table and chairs set in the shallow of the river.

Like much of Monte Plata, it’s a clean and safe environment. Entrance is $RD50 per person at the gate.

Balneario Rio Comate. Photo © Lebawit Lily Girma.

An Easy City Escape

It’s incredible that you can swim and relax at all of these parks and waterfalls so close to the capital in a single day. The ease of driving to Monte Plata—thanks to improved road conditions (but watch out for cattle)—the cleanliness of the parks and rivers, and the affordability of the trip (US$50 total for two persons, including gas) all make for an ideal independent day trip from Santo Domingo. Pick a weekday (Monday through Wednesday), and you’ll likely have these waterfalls and parks to yourself.

Note that some visitors have been charged an extra RD$50 parking fee per car, but that is most likely done on the weekend.

Stay Longer

If you have more time, don’t hesitate to overnight at one of the eco-camping facilities in the area like Campo Aventura Comatillo. The next day, you could head to Saltos de La Sabana, another waterfalls park 14 km north of Bayaguana, or drive east to Yamasá town to visit to the famous Taíno ceramic workshop of the Guillén Brothers (Hermanos Guillén), known countrywide for their Taíno-inspired crafts made in Yamasá and sold in major tourist areas of the DR.

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Pike Place Market

This downtown landmark’s seafood counter and its flying fish may be the most famous part of Pike Place Market (market 9am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm Sun., individual shop hours vary), but there’s enough produce, spices, crafts, buskers, and fresh-made doughnuts to fill an entire day.

Seattle Art Museum

Discover a peerless collection of Northwest art at the Seattle Art Museum (1300 1st Ave., 206/654-3100; 10am-5pm Wed. and Fri.-Sun., 10am-9pm Thurs.; $20 adults, $18 seniors, $13 students, children free). Displays range from the traditional to the cutting-edge, with artists like John Singer Sargent and Jackson Pollock represented.

See a fantastic collection of art at the Seattle Art Museum. Photo © Benjamin Benschneider, courtesy of the Seattle Art Museum.

Seattle Center

The Seattle Center (305 Harrison St., 206/684-7200) collection of museums, sights, green spaces, and fountains–comprised of big-name attractions like the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, the Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation–entices visitors to spend as much time as possible here.

Space Needle

The city’s retro icon was born as a sketch on a cocktail napkin by one of the 1962 World’s Fair planners, and the 605-foot Space Needle was built in less than a year. At 520 feet, the Observation Deck (10am-11pm Mon.-Thurs., 9am-11:30pm Fri.-Sat., 9am-11pm Sun.; $18-28 adults, $16-26 seniors, $11-17 youth 4-12, children 3 and under free) features indoor and outdoor binoculars and information on what you can see.

Seattle’s iconic Space Needle. Photo © Justek16/Dreamstime.

Olympic Sculpture Park

What was once an oil company’s waterfront land has been reborn as Olympic Sculpture Park (2901 Western Ave., 206/654-3100; sunrise-sunset daily; pavilion: 10am-5pm Tues.-Sun. summer, 10am-4pm Tues.-Sun. winter; free), a series of zigzagging green spaces that hold massive works of art.

Museum of History and Industry

Interactive exhibits, artifacts, and curiosities offer insight into the city’s past, present, and future at the Museum of History and Industry (860 Terry Ave. N, 206/324-1126; 10am-5pm Fri.-Wed., 10am-8pm Thurs.; $17 adults, $15 seniors and students, children free). The museum saw renewed interest when it moved to this former armory building in 2012—finally, the city’s best museum about itself wasn’t on the periphery, but close to downtown, in a striking four-story waterfront home.

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks

Boats big and small gain passage to the Ship Canal through the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (3015 54th St. NW, 206/783-7059; grounds 7am-9pm daily, fish ladder 7am-8:45pm daily, visitors center 10am-6pm daily May-Sept., 10am-4pm Thurs.-Mon. Oct.-Apr.; free), next to a special thoroughfare made just for salmon. For the mechanically minded, there’s nothing like an afternoon watching the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operate the locks.

Visit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks to see boats, salmon, and even a botanic garden. Photo © Allison Williams.

Coffee Culture

The craze for caffeine was born here, and the city’s blocks are full of corporate coffee chains and indie outposts alike. In the 1990s, Seattle’s cultural explosion saw salon-style coffee shops popped up on almost every block in the city, becoming places where counterculture, music, poetry, and activism could thrive. Starbucks reigns, but there are also local mini-chains like Cherry Street Coffee and Uptown Espresso, and one-off favorites like Lighthouse Roasters and Monorail Espresso.

Live Music

Seattle’s storied live music scene attracts talent from around the world and across genres. This is the city that Jimi Hendrix called home, where Kurt Cobain found fame before his tragic end, and where Macklemore became an independent rap sensation. Rock, soul, and pop acts are drawn to stages at the likes of Neumos, Tractor Tavern, The Triple Door, and even the busking corners in Pike Place Market.

Craft Beer

An abundance of local, artisanal breweries place the city at the forefront of this hoppy trend. You’ll find the beer on tap in many of the city’s bars, though never canned or bottled. Brewers are stretching beyond IPA into new specialty areas, including porters, sour beers, and session ales. Bars like Tap House Grill and Noble Fir offer a chance to taste the wide variety of Northwest beers.

Beer lovers will love the craft brew options in Seattle. Photo © OIiver Perez/Dreamstime.

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Plaza Luis Cabrera sits in the heart of the Roma neighborhood. Photo © Julie Meade.

Morning

There’s often a wait for Saturday brunch at Sobrinos, where black-vested waiters rush trays of café con leche and baskets of sweet breads to local families filling the bustling old-fashioned dining room.

From there, walk a few blocks east to the Mercado de Cuauhtémoc, a weekly vintage market held in the Jardín Dr. Ignacio Chávez, on the border of the Roma and the Colonia Doctores. Though not as well known as the antiquities markets in La Lagunilla and the Plaza del Ángel, this weekly flea has some funky booths and, often, excellent finds for sharp-eyed shoppers. Look for watches, midcentury home accessories, and antique toys, though you may have to sift through some flotsam to find them.

After the market, take your treasures out for a coffee at the wonderfully unpretentious yet high quality café El Cardinal, on Córdoba in the Roma. After that, walk along the Roma’s main corridor, Álvaro Obregón, which is filled with creaky old bookshops, hip cocktail bars, and 19th-century mansions. Take a look inside the mansions. Take a look inside the art gallery and bookshop at multidisciplinary cultural center Casa Lamm, and pick up a jar of honey or guava-chile salsa at Delirio.

Next, walk south along Orizaba, wandering past the shaded fountains in the Plaza Luis Cabrera on your way to the Mercado El 100, which sets up in the Plaza del Lanzador every Saturday morning. At this small open-air market, you’ll find locally produced and largely organic products, from spirulina powder to freeze-dried mango, as well as lead-free clay cookware and plates.

Grab lunch at Lalo. Photo © Julie Meade.

Afternoon

Do like the local crowd and set aside a few hours for lunch—though first you’ll face the near-impossible task of deciding where to eat. If there are tables available, try inspired Mexican spot Fonda Fina, grab a sidewalk table at hopping oyster bar La Docena, or, if you don’t have reservations for Máximo Bistrot Local, line up for a spot at the communal table at Lalo, the more casual cousin to chef Eduardo Garcia’s famous restaurant.

After lunch, wander along the shady street Colima, stopping in to its funky skate shops and boutiques, like 180° Shop and Goodbye Folk, and seeing what’s on show in galleries, like Galería OMR. Top off the afternoon at Mercado Roma, a next-generation market and food court, which can pack to standing-room-only during the lunch hour. Since you probably aren’t hungry, better to head upstairs to the Biergarten, spending an hour or two enjoying the sunshine with a Mexican-made craft beer. Order some bar snacks and linger, or head back into the heart of the Roma to have a proper dinner at hipster hot spot Mog, a popular Asian café on Álvaro Obregón.

Mercado Roma is both a market and food court. Photo © Julie Meade.

Evening

Wrap up the evening with a drink at one of the neighborhood’s best bars, like tiny Félix or cocktail-centric Licorería Limantour.

Excerpted from the Sixth Edition of Moon Mexico City.

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Norway regularly places in the upper ranks of annual surveys about quality of life, and this year’s World Happiness Report ranks us as the happiest country in the world. It has topped headlines but left many people asking one simple question: why?

Norway regularly places in the upper ranks of annual surveys about quality of life. Photo © David Nikel.

Work-Life Balance

Working conditions in Norway heavily favor the employee: it’s very difficult to get fired and everyone is entitled to five weeks paid vacation. Salaries for low-skilled work are relatively high, which ensures even burger flippers can afford a smartphone and a few weeks in the Mediterranean sunshine.

In the unlikely event you lose your job, unemployment benefits are some of the most generous in the world. A short working week, extensive paid parental leave, job security, and genuine focus on work-life balance removes a lot of the stress that many people outside Norway experience with their careers.

A Return on Tax Payments

Whether it’s because of quality public services or that anyone can look up how much tax someone pays, Norwegians seem to genuinely be happy to pay their taxes.

While far from perfect, the national healthcare system is easy to access and treatment costs for patients are capped at around $300 per year regardless of your condition. New investments are made in roads, rail, bridges, tunnels to get around this geographically awkward country.

The Great Outdoors

Much to love about living in Norway has nothing to do with money.

“Norwegians are born with skis on their feet,” or so the saying goes. But they also seem born with a natural love of hiking, cycling, running, and spending time in mountain cabins. Norway is a naturally beautiful country and there’s a lot to be said for choosing the great outdoors over starting yet another series on Netflix. Even city-dwellers have easy access to nature: Bergen is surrounded by mountains, while Trondheim and Oslo have miles of forest trails on their doorstep.

Norwegians seem to be born with a natural love of the outdoors. Photo © Simon Dannhauer.

The Downsides

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in this corner of northern Europe. There are some downsides to living in Scandinavia that have left many of my fellow expats scratching their heads about Norway’s lofty ranking.

While milder than you may expect, Norwegian winters can be hard going. Days are short and the darkness can play havoc with your body’s internal clock, so much so that Seasonal Affective Disorder is a problem across Scandinavia. Rjukan, a village in a remote central valley, has even erected giant mirrors high in the mountains to beam sunlight into the town square.

There’s also the colossal elephant in the room of what happens when the oil runs dry. The industry has taken a hit in recent years and yet the government has been slow to respond. Whether Norwegians will make the necessary adjustments to become competitive in a global knowledge economy remains to be seen.

While milder than you may expect, Norwegian winters can be hard going due to short days. Photo © David Nikel.

It Depends on Who You Ask

While I’m not suggesting the participants from Norway lied, Norwegians are brought up inside a behavioral bubble known as janteloven, which encourages a focus on the needs of society over the wants of the individual. It’s a similar story in the other Nordic countries, so perhaps it’s little surprise that all five of them placed in the top ten.

So yes, Norway is the happiest place on earth—but only if you’re Norwegian. But for everyone else, especially if you have even a passing interest in hiking, sailing or relaxing in front of dramatic scenery, Norway is a very happy place to visit!

The post Why is Norway the Happiest Country in the World? appeared first on Moon Travel Guides.

You’ll find local hammams in pretty much every city in Morocco. A visit costs about a dollar (10 Moroccan dirhams), with different operating hours for men and women. For the uninitiated, the experience can be a bit confusing. Typically, you’ll navigate four rooms (changing room, cool room, warm room and hot room) in your bathing suit or underwear, first soaping yourself with savon bildi (black soap) in the warm room. Next up is the hot room, where you rinse, scrub, and breathe in the steam, before heading back to the warm room for a final soap-down (and maybe a massage). The final stop is the cool room, where the thing to do is sit for a little while, chat with a friend, and snack on a fresh mandarin or orange.

A traditional Moroccan hammam. Photo © Typhoonski.

A note on etiquette: women can sometimes go totally nude (just look around to see if anyone else is stripping down to their birthday suits). Without exception, men are expected to keep their bathing suits on at all times. It might seem strange to keep your bathing suit or underwear on while washing, but this is the norm. You’ll also find that the local hammams can be pretty loud. Keep in mind, for many people, this is the place to go to gossip and share news with friends.

Couples or travelers looking for a quieter experience should prioritize one of the mid-range or high-end hammams found throughout Morocco. For 25 dollars on up (250 Moroccan dirhams) you can have an intimate, relaxing experience as attendants scrub, exfoliate and massage you for an hour. You’ll leave feeling fresh and invigorated—and at the same time, feeling a little like you could plop down for a really good nap.

For the local hammams, you’ll be expected to bring everything, which gives you a good excuse to go shopping for all the Moroccan bath treats you’ll want to take home! The most important are savon bildi and ghassoul (clay). Savon bildi is available in different scents, with eucalyptus, wild mint, orange blossom and argan oil being the most popular. Argan oil, in particular, has numerous benefits: it makes hair shine and reduces inflammation and scarring in the skin. Many men and women use argan oil to help with acne and stretch marks.

Henna, savon bildi, and ghassoul. Photo © Pauliene Wessel/123rf.

What to Bring

• Flipflops or sandals
• A plastic bucket
• A cup (traditionally this would be brass, but any cup will do)
• A towel
• A kis (the scrubbing glove)
• Savon bildi (black soap)
• Ghassoul (clay)
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Shower gel or soap bar
• Something to cover your lower half (bathing suit or underwear, though keep in mind they might get stained if you’re going to have henna applied or might get stretched out because of the steam)
• A clean change of clothes
• An orange to eat while you are relaxing in the cooling room before you change into fresh clothes

Whether you dive in for the local hammam experience or opt for one of the trendy, high-end spas, the end result will be the same: you’ll be the cleanest you’ve ever been.

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For many kids, “California” equals Disneyland. The dream vacation spot continues to enchant kids, and even the most cynical adults are likely to crack a smile at classics like the Haunted Mansion, the Matterhorn, and Pirates of the Caribbean. The new Disney’s California Adventure Park piles on the fun with rides inspired by both real and imagined California. If anyone has energy left after a few days in the Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios and Hollywood are only a short drive away, as are the beaches of Orange County: the ideal place to catch your breath—plus some sun, and maybe a few waves.

There are a thousand ways to enjoy California with the whole family, and a beach day is one of the best. Photo © Elizabeth Linhart Veneman.

Further south, the San Diego Zoo offers wilder fun and enchantment. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the zoo is home to 600 species of animals. Kids will love the elephants, tigers, lions, and monkeys, but especially the family of playful pandas. This truly cavernous zoo has animal habitats tucked all throughout its 100 acres, and is guaranteed to properly wear out your energetic youngster. The aerial tramway from one end of the zoo to the other adds an additional thrill and is the ideal antidote to tired legs. Be sure to visit some of the other museums and gardens scattered around the Balboa Park. The beaches are a hit too—Coronado and La Jolla are especially great for kicking back with a craft beer and a couple of San Diego’s best tacos while the kids splash around in the surf.

There are plenty of animal attractions in San Diego including its famous zoo. Photo © f8grapher/123rf.

For serious beach fun, head to the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. With 34 rides, the Boardwalk has been thrilling kids, jaded teenagers and fun-loving grownups alike since 1907. Ride the oldest wooden roller coaster in the state, get lost in the arcade, and cool off on log ride, while your little ones have plenty of fun touring the tot rides. Once they’ve had their fill, take your blanket and saltwater taffy to the beach for some sandcastles, splashing, and sunbathing. Or head to the hills to enjoy the grandeur and quiet of the California’s redwood trees.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Photo © Ken Wolter/123rf.

Parents may groan, but kids can’t get enough of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. On this stretch of northern waterfront, they can tip their toes in the bay at Aquatic Park, dine on decadent sundaes at Ghirardelli Square, explore 19th century schooners and World War II Liberty ships at Hyde Street Pier and Pier 45, play vintage arcade games at the Musée Mécanique, ride the carousel and watch street performers at Pier 39, and have their mind blown at the fantastic Exploratorium.

Afterward, ride a cable car and take the family out to some of San Francisco’s best pizza in North Beach. Make Day Two a visit to Golden Gate Park and the outstandingly kid-friendly California Academy of Sciences and Koret Children’s Playground. Or head to the beaches, redwoods, and wild lands north of the Golden Gate.

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Palacio de Bellas Artes. Photo © Dreamstime.

Museo del Templo Mayor

Mexico City’s tumultuous history is visible at the ruins of the Templo Mayor(55/4040-5600, ext. 412930, Tues.-Sun. 9am-5pm; US$5, free on Sun.; Metro: Zócalo), a great temple-pyramid that was destroyed during the 16th-century Spanish siege of Tenochtitlán. The museum showcases artifacts recovered from the archaeological site.

Palacio de Bellas Artes

With its grand marble facade and opulent art deco interior, the incomparable Palacio de Bellas Artes (55/5512-2593; Tues.-Sun. 10am-9pm; free to enter the lobby, US$4 admission to museum and mezzanine level; Metro: Bellas Artes) is one of Mexico’s most striking buildings, as well as a keynote arts institution. On the second and third floors, the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes (55/5521-9251, Tues.-Sun. 10am-6pm) has hosted some of the most important art shows of the past decade.

Museo Nacional de Antropología

Take a grand tour of the many pre-Columbian cultures in Mexico through artifacts and art at the Museo Nacional de Antropología (55/4040-5300; Tues.-Sun. 9am-7pm; US$5; Metro: Auditorio). The most impressive rooms are dedicated to the people who lived in Teotihuacán and in what is today Mexico City.

Museo Frida Kahlo

A superbly talented painter and a beloved icon the world around, Frida Kahlo is celebrated at the lovely and intimate Museo Frida Kahlo (55/5554-5999; Tues., Thurs.-Sun. 10am-5:45pm, Wed. 11am-5:45pm; US$4.50 adults, US$2 students; Metro: Coyoacán) housed in her childhood home.

Museo Frida Kahlo. Photo © Dreamstime.

Teotihuacán

Admire the views from the top of two spectacular temple-pyramids at the country’s most-visited archaeological site, the Teotihuacán archaeological zone (Ecatepec Pirámides km 22 + 600, Municipio de Teotihuacán, Estado de México, 594/956-0276; daily 9am-5pm, US$5, children under 13, students, teachers, seniors, and people with disabilities free), a day trip just outside the city limits.

Cantina Culture

These relaxed neighborhood bars are quintessential to Mexico City. Spend a few hours enjoying the convivial atmosphere with a shot of good tequila in hand. Try Bar La Ópera (Av. Cinco de Mayo 10, 55/5512-8959; Mon.-Sat. 1pm-midnight, Sun. 1pm-6pm; Metro: Bellas Artes) or Centenario (“Vicente Suárez 42, 55/5553-5451; Mon.-Sat. noon-1am; no cover; Metro: Patriotismo).

Classic Cuisine

Mexico City’s tremendous food scene is reason alone to visit the city. You’ll find ace eats in every price range and in every neighborhood, from old cantinas and street-front taquerías to fine dining.

Traditional Markets

The city’s colorful and atmospheric markets are where locals shop for everything from home goods to used LPs. If you only have time to visit one, make it Mercado de la Merced (Circunvalación between General Anaya and Adolfo Gorrión, Col. Merced Balbuena, 55/5522-7250; daily 6am-6pm; Metro: La Merced).

Mercado de la Merced. Photo © Julie Meade.

Pulque

This fizzy fermented beverage, made from the sap of the maguey cactus, is a capital tradition. As the younger generation discovers this drink, it’s experiencing a deserved revival. Try it at Pulquería Las Duelistas (Aranda 28, 55/1394-0958; Mon.-Sat. 10am-9pm; no cover; Metro: San Juan Letrán), one of the oldest traditional pulquerías in Mexico City.

Contemporary Art

With the opening of new museums and the continued excellence of many long-running galleries, there’s never been a better time to be an art lover. The Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (Insurgentes Sur 3000, 55/5622-6972; Wed., Fri., and Sun. 10am-6pm, Thurs. and Sat. 10am-8pm; Wed. and Sun. US$1.50, Thurs.-Sat. US$3.50, children under 12 free; Metro: Universidad, Metrobús: CCU) in the heart of the UNAM campus has consistently been one of the best places to see contemporary art in Mexico City since it opened in 2008.

Excerpted from the Sixth Edition of Moon Mexico City.

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If you’re looking to take it all in, these parks boast some of the state’s best and most accessible views.

Angel Island has stunning views. Photo © Elizabeth Linhart Veneman.

• Take advantage of one of California’s most famous photo ops at Big Sur’s Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. McWay Falls, with its ribbon of water hitting a white sand beach feet away from a rocky, aquamarine cove, is an easy stroll from the parking on Highway 1. Take any one of the trails climbing the hillsides east of the highway for grand views of Big Sur’s coastline plunging into the vast Pacific.
• If the beauty of crystal-clear Lake Tahoe wasn’t revelatory enough, true inspiration can be found at Inspiration Point, overlooking the jewel-like waters of Emerald Bay State Park. Once you’ve caught your breath, follow the easy and scenic Rubicon Trail to Vikingsholm Castle for some added grandeur.
• Catch diverse views of wild mountains, Marin’s waterfront, the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco’s cityscape, and Alcatraz, while hiking around Angel Island State Park. The sights begin as soon as you board the ferry in either San Francisco or Tiberon, and keep on coming—even as you visit the Immigration Station, the poetry of which is sure to inspire a pause for reflection.

Wild California certainly means wild, and parks offer first row seats to some of California’s most charismatic creatures.

Año Nuevo is awash in elephant seals. Photo © Frank S. Valli.

• Marvel at the sheer size and numbers of the elephant seals that congregate every year at Año Nuevo State Park to mate, breed, fight, and play. Join a tour January through March when the pups are at their cutest, or come in the quieter summer months and enjoy the rich ecological diversity.
• Bring your binoculars and hunt for Eared Grebes among the two million nesting and migrating birds at Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. Thanks to the brine shrimp and alkali flies, nearly 100 different species of birds flock to California’s most stunning and unusual lake, making it a birder’s paradise.
• Discover Roosevelt Elk, nestled in the sand dunes and meandering the trails in the Fern Canyon of Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. As if the park’s windswept beach at the foot of an old growth redwood forest weren’t magical enough, these oversized ungulates add to the wonder.

Families traveling through California will find a friend in the State Parks. All are accessible, affordable, and come with a wealth of activities and attractions, but some truly stand out in terms of exciting the imagination and burning off restless energy.

Panning for gold in Malakoff Diggins State Park. Photo © Elizabeth Linhart Veneman.

• Undoubtedly the kids will beeline it to the old-fashioned candy store, but Columbia State Historic Park has more than just sticky sweets. This preserved Gold Rush town offers carriage rides, gold panning, and cheerful docents in period costume bringing the Wild West to life.
• Set up camp like a real gold miner at Malakoff Diggins State Park. With huge, shaded camp sites, a preserved Gold Rush town, a creek for gold panning, and the biggest the hydraulic mine in the state, this laid back park will keep kids entertained for days.
• All the ingredients for a classic California summer camping trip come together at Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Swim in the Stanislaus River, bike the myriad of crisscrossing trails, and explore the giant sequoias at this family favorite.

So, no matter what your looking for—a wilderness adventure, a kid pleasing camping trip, or a snap shot of the state’s most beautiful sights—be sure to add one (or two) of California’s state parks to your itinerary.

The post Best California State Parks appeared first on Moon Travel Guides.

Snug against the edge of the vast Sahara Desert, Merzouga was little more than a collection of a few Bedouin tents a few short years ago. The irresistible draw of the desert is evident in the number of hotels and specialty riads that have recently sprung up, as well as the new paved road from Er-Rissani.

Desert accommodations in Merzouga. Photo © Lucas Peters.

Merzouga is one of the more accessible portals to the desert. Trekking into the desert on camelback for a quiet night in a Bedouin tent, sipping mint tea on the great Erg Chebbi, enjoying a wood-fired tajine, stargazing late into the night and waking early to watch the pink and crimson sunrise is something of a quotidian affair.

From a great distance, the ochre brilliance of Erg Chebbi rises high above Merzouga, a stunning reminder of the sheer awesomeness of the Sahara. Throughout the day, the sands here shift in shades of red and pink, making for breathtaking pictures and ever-changing scenery. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry described this experience best when he wrote: “One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams.”

A vast hamada (barren, rocky plateau) separates this piece of the Sahara from the rest of the desert, rendering it an especially curious sight in this otherwise rocky region. The dunes rise to heights of nearly 500 feet (150m) and spread out over an expanse of 200 square miles. Even with the rise in tourism, it’s still very possible to enjoy a quiet night beneath the stars in the hush of the desert.

There are several ways to tour Erg Chebbi. The easiest is to walk, though trekking through the dunes is tough work. Still, many people make it out on foot to the tallest sand dune to take in a sunset. ATVs are another possibility, are generally discouraged due to noise and pollution. The most natural method of transportation is by camel—specifically, dromedary.

There are numerous guides with their dromedaries hanging out at the beginning of Erg Chebbi. In the offseason, some deals can be found if you bargain hard. The typical rates are 100Dh for a ride out to enjoy the sunset, 200-500Dh for an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast in a Bedouin tent, or 700-1000Dh for a “luxury stay” overnight, complete with en suite toilets. You’ve come all this way…it would be shame not to ride that dromedary out into that wonderful Saharan sand and experience a taste of life in the desert.

The seasonal lake of Erg Chabbi. Photo © Lucas Peters.

When to Go

The spring and fall are generally considered the best months to visit. Temperatures can be hot during the day and cool at night, but the weather is generally fair. Winter can be an excellent time to visit, though rain storms and flooding can be a concern and temperatures will dip below freezing at night in some parts.

Planning Your Time

For those on a tight schedule, be aware that travel times will be long. The roads are slow and generally not well-maintained. From Marrakech, you most likely come via the N9 through Ouarzazate. From Fez or Meknes, you will arrive from the north via the N13 by way of Midelt and through the Ziz Valley. It’s best to traverse this region with a map, as roads are often unmarked and sometimes marked only in Arabic. Before setting out, have an idea of the roads you’ll take and possible circuits. Roads are all two-lanes, meaning that traffic can get backed up because of farm equipment and herding animals.

From Marrakech, it’s possible to take a three-day trip into the Sahara via Ouarzazate, though this will mean a lot of travel time per day. Four days is preferable: one day to get to Ouarzazate, another half day to explore one or two of the kasbahs around Ouarzazate (such as the famed Ait Ben Haddouh), and then a half day to continue to the first erg of the Sahara outside of Zagora (or to Erg Chebbi at Merzouga). Plan for one day in the Sahara and then another for the return trip. It’s possible to continue from Marrakech all the way to Zagora in one day, though this is a lot of driving.

From Fez or Meknes, it will take a full day of driving to get to Merzouga. If you leave early enough, it’s possible to take a camel or 4×4 out to a bedouin tent and then return the next day, but three or four days is a more relaxing pace.

Agencies and Guides

The region is best explored with a guide for those who don’t have much time and want to do more than just a night in the desert. The most dependable, honest guide in the region is Abdelkarim Tata (tel. 0662/294 386). Tata can arrange for day trips in the region, including the nearby Ziz Valley, 4x4s into the desert, overnight trips into reputable Bedouin nomad camps, and meals with a nomad locally famous for his madfouna—a local specialty of ground camel, chicken or cow and onion, seasoned, spiced and folded, slow cooked beneath hot desert sands (a non-traditional, but equally delicious, vegetarian option is available).

If you’d like to include a trip to Merzouga as part of your Moroccan vacation, consider contacting Journey Beyond Travel (tel. 0610/414 573 in Morocco, U.S. toll-free tel. 855/687-6676), one of the best travel companies in Morocco. They create custom packages and tours while working to maintain an eco-friendly, socially sustainable business model. They can arrange for trips throughout this region with reliable, friendly drivers and the best accommodation in the area.

Taha pouring tea in the Moroccan desert. Photo © Lucas Peters.

Getting There

Getting to the edge of nowhere can be a little tricky without a car, and even with a car you will likely want to rent a 4×4 vehicle to further explore this edge of the Sahara. The national road (N13) stops in Merzouga. It is possible to take this road from Fez (292mi/470km, 9hr), following the N8 into the Middle Atlas, past the towns of Imouzzer, Ifrane and Azrou before joining the N13 and following the road signs to Midelt and Errachidia (83mi/133km, 2hr). From Meknes (287mi/462km, 9hr), the route is a bit more straightforward, taking you directly through El Hajeb and Azrou on the N13.

From Ouarzazate (229mi/368km, 8hr), follow the N10 through the North Draa Valley, past the Dades and Todra Gorges. At Tinejdad (91mi/146km, 2.5hr), turn off the N10 and follow the R702 (Route de Jorf) to Erfoud (37mi/60km, 1hr).

There is convenient free parking at the end of the main road, where the pavement meets the desert at the base of Erg Chebbi, the largest single erg in the region.

The Supratours (tel. 0524/888 566 or 0524/885 632) bus runs all the way to Merzouga from Fez (11hr, 1 daily, 190Dh) and Marrakech (12.5hr, 1 daily, 200Dh). You can also catch this bus in Errachidia (2.5hr, 2 daily, 60Dh), Ouarzazate (8hr, 1 daily 130Dh), Boulmane Dades (6hr, 1 daily, 90Dh) or Tinghir (5hr, 1 daily, 80Dh). Buy tickets a few days in advance to guarantee seating.

If arriving via CTM (Call Center: tel. 0800 0900 30), the bus only runs up to Rissani; after that, you’ll have to get a grand taxi (42km, 45min, 10Dh).

The Supratours buses leave Merzouga at 8am and 7pm. Travelers heading south will want to take the morning bus that passes through Rissani and Errachidia before turning south on the N10 and stopping at Tinghir (4.5hr, 1 daily, 80Dh), Boulmane Dades (6.5hr, 1 daily, 100Dh), Ouarzazate (8hr, 1 daily, 120Dh), and Marrakech (12hr, 1 daily, 175Dh). The 7pm bus runs through Errachidia before continuing overnight until Fez (11hr, 1 daily, 160Dh).

The post Guide to Sahara Desert Tours from Car to Camel appeared first on Moon Travel Guides.

California’s wildflower season begins in mid-March on the floors of Southern California’s vast deserts, and moves north through its great valleys, coastal plains, woodland foothills, and culminates high in its mountain meadows in late July. Anza Borrego Desert State Park is the first stop on a wildflower tour. For just a few weeks, the park is awash in tufts of purple, yellow, white, and gold, when lilies, poppies, primrose, agave, and even the prickly barrel cactus, burst into color. Stretch your legs in the desert garden outside the visitor center, explore the brilliant Borrego Palm Canyon, or prepare to have your breath taken away by the Carrizo Badlands Overlook awash in lavender, lilies, and creosote.

A variety of California wildflowers bloom in Anza Borrego State Park. Photo © Sumikophoto/123rf.

The color continues north to nearby Joshua Tree National Park, where blooms send out their tender shoots as early as February at the lower elevations, and can keep blooming until April or even June higher up. In March, the southern Cottonwood Visitor Center is the place to go for striking displays of Arizona lupine’s purple spikes, flowering ocotillo, and the hummingbird favorite, churparosa. In the northern reaches of the park, yucca, teddy bear cholla, and Joshua trees are just beginning their bloom. Look for these near the west entrance of the park, and along the Cholla Cactus Garden Nature Trail.

April is when the California poppy unfurls its deep orange petals in earnest. While found in nearly every corner of the state, there is no match for the plunging slopes of Big Sur when it comes to seeing California’s most famous flower. March through May, Big Sur’s grassland becomes a lush blanket of green, gold, and lavender (thanks to another favorite, lupine). Take the Soberanes Point and Calla Lilly Canyon trails at Garrapata State Park, just seven miles south of Carmel, to soak up the scenery.

Wildflowers bloom along the California coast near Big Sur. Photo © Kan Khampanya/123rf.

If you’re visiting the north coast, the quaint village of Mendocino is the perfect backdrop to the surrounding wildflower studded bluffs. The Mendocino Headlands State Park is just steps away from the town’s wooden boardwalks, and is filled with poppies, lupine, seaside dailies, Mendocino paintbrush, and coastal buckwheat. It’s also not a bad spot to witness migrating whales.

Wildflowers in Wine Country? You bet. The bucolic fields of the Sonoma Valley become even more beautiful when filled with poppies, lupine, forget-me-nots, buttercups, fuschia, Mariposa lilies, and yarrow. Just a stroll from Sonoma’s historic plaza, the Sonoma Overlook Trail winds three miles through grass and oak woodland, and is the ideal spot for a wildflower-filled picnic. If that’s not enough, consider booking a guided tour at the Bouverie Preserve outside Glen Ellen, home to 350 species of flowering plants and 130 species of birds.

Lupine blooming in wine country. Photo © Elizabeth Linhart Veneman.

Summer travelers need not despair. As California’s grassland turns from green to gold, the wildflowers head for the hills. With its 1100-foot range in elevation, Yosemite is in bloom nearly all year round. Starting in March on the valley floor, find clover, pine violets, evening primrose, and dogwood. At higher elevations starting in May, look for snow plant, columbine, monkshood, shooting stars, and rein orchids. Up Tioga Pass around Tuolumne Meadows, the show starts in late June with lilies, paintbrush, mountain dandelion, red heather, and fireweed, and continues into July when the late bloomers of Alpine paintbrush, wallflower, and mountain monkeyflower get their chance.

Whether you plan a trip to the desert, to the coast, or to the mountains, as a first time visitor or seasoned native, this is the year to see the Golden State sparkle.

The post Seeing California Wildflowers in 2017’s Super Bloom appeared first on Moon Travel Guides.