Showing posts with label North America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North America. Show all posts
Friday, January 6, 2012
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
#8 - A Rainforest Retreat
I love spending time outdoors. I love plants and animals. I love weather. I love the color green. Really, it is my favorite color. So in honor of some of my favorite things, for my next imaginary vacation I choose
Wishful Vacation #8
Monteverde, Costa Rica
Why I imagine I would go to Costa Rica:
Costa Rica has rainforests. This small country in Central America is amazing because of its biodiversity. It has a great variety of habitats from the coast to the mountainous inland regions. The rainforest itself has many layers of life. It would be amazing to see it in person.
Monteverde, in the center of the country, is a lush cloud forest. I have been in cloud forest environments in a couple of greenhouses, and it is like a wonderland to me. I love the coolness and the humidity. It feels refreshing. Monteverde sits 4600 feet above sea level, and is literally in the clouds. The moisture from the clouds provides nourishment for the forest's inhabitants.
The ecosystem contains 100 species of mammals that we know of (can you imagine!?), 400 species of birds, and over 2500 species of plants, including 420 orchids! I would love to watch nature in action in such a rich habitat!
Where I imagine I might stay in Costa Rica:
The Hotel Belmar in Monteverde is a small, eco-friendly lodge right in the middle of the cloud forest area. The style of the outside of the hotel looks strangely northern European. But, the style of the rooms is more tropical. There are only 28 rooms in the whole hotel, which means more peace and quiet for me!
I love the open porches in the rooms. I can tell from the exterior shot that balconies are a major feature of this hotel. Its location up on a hill would afford gorgeous views of the mountain forest. I can't wait!
I would love to listen to the sounds of the forest from this room. The hotel doesn't have a pool, but they do have a large jacuzzi with cloud forest views. I guess I'll settle for that.
What I imagine I would eat in Costa Rica:
Cheese. Seriously? Cheese? There is a cheese factory in Monteverde, which almost doesn't make sense, but there it is. Quakers from the United States founded it. So strange! I guess I would try their cheese. I also would have to eat some more traditional food while I'm in Costa Rica.
This photo is from a cool-looking restaurant called Tree House. I think they probably named it after that huge tree in the middle of the room! They serve light food and snacks, so it would work for a light lunch. The huge ficus tree growing inside would be really fun to see.
Flor de Vida restaurant is a local favorite. The New York Times says they have the "best and healthiest fare to be found in Monteverde." Sounds like a good start! They offer daily specials and lots of interesting vegetarian dishes. That sounds like just the thing for my eco-friendly Costa Rica experience.
What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Costa Rica:
I want to go on a hike in the cloud forest. Maybe more than one. I also want to spend time looking for animals and plants with a knowledgeable guide. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a nature center with guided hikes that sound amazing. The hike I most want to take is the early morning bird-watching hike. Birds in the tropical regions are so numerous and so colorful! It would be awesome to see them in their natural habitat.
Costa Rica's cloud forests would definitely feel like another world! How much time have you spent in the woods? Where should I go on my next imaginary adventure?
Happy travels!
xoxo - Erika
Wishful Vacation #8
Monteverde, Costa Rica
Why I imagine I would go to Costa Rica:
Costa Rica has rainforests. This small country in Central America is amazing because of its biodiversity. It has a great variety of habitats from the coast to the mountainous inland regions. The rainforest itself has many layers of life. It would be amazing to see it in person.
Photo from here.
Monteverde, in the center of the country, is a lush cloud forest. I have been in cloud forest environments in a couple of greenhouses, and it is like a wonderland to me. I love the coolness and the humidity. It feels refreshing. Monteverde sits 4600 feet above sea level, and is literally in the clouds. The moisture from the clouds provides nourishment for the forest's inhabitants.
Photo from here.
The ecosystem contains 100 species of mammals that we know of (can you imagine!?), 400 species of birds, and over 2500 species of plants, including 420 orchids! I would love to watch nature in action in such a rich habitat!
Where I imagine I might stay in Costa Rica:
The Hotel Belmar in Monteverde is a small, eco-friendly lodge right in the middle of the cloud forest area. The style of the outside of the hotel looks strangely northern European. But, the style of the rooms is more tropical. There are only 28 rooms in the whole hotel, which means more peace and quiet for me!
Photo from here.
I love the open porches in the rooms. I can tell from the exterior shot that balconies are a major feature of this hotel. Its location up on a hill would afford gorgeous views of the mountain forest. I can't wait!
Photo from here.
I would love to listen to the sounds of the forest from this room. The hotel doesn't have a pool, but they do have a large jacuzzi with cloud forest views. I guess I'll settle for that.
What I imagine I would eat in Costa Rica:
Cheese. Seriously? Cheese? There is a cheese factory in Monteverde, which almost doesn't make sense, but there it is. Quakers from the United States founded it. So strange! I guess I would try their cheese. I also would have to eat some more traditional food while I'm in Costa Rica.
This photo is from a cool-looking restaurant called Tree House. I think they probably named it after that huge tree in the middle of the room! They serve light food and snacks, so it would work for a light lunch. The huge ficus tree growing inside would be really fun to see.
Flor de Vida restaurant is a local favorite. The New York Times says they have the "best and healthiest fare to be found in Monteverde." Sounds like a good start! They offer daily specials and lots of interesting vegetarian dishes. That sounds like just the thing for my eco-friendly Costa Rica experience.
What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Costa Rica:
I want to go on a hike in the cloud forest. Maybe more than one. I also want to spend time looking for animals and plants with a knowledgeable guide. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a nature center with guided hikes that sound amazing. The hike I most want to take is the early morning bird-watching hike. Birds in the tropical regions are so numerous and so colorful! It would be awesome to see them in their natural habitat.
Photo from here.
Happy travels!
xoxo - Erika
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving! - From Plimoth Plantation
Happy Thanksgiving!
For this holiday, my usual tradition is to cook a lot of food and eat it with family and friends. I think this is how most of us who celebrate Thanksgiving do it. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie, cranberries... Delicious. I thought that it might be cool to get a glimpse back in time to the historical reference point of our modern Thanksgiving.
I have heard the tales of the English settlers in the New World eating peacefully with the native people, learning about which foods they could eat and how to prepare them. They all sat at a big table and ate together or something like that. If I want to take a trip to confirm or contest any of my prior knowledge about Thanksgiving, it's gotta be to Plimoth Plantation, the Smithsonian Institute-affiliated historic site.
I hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day with the ones you love!
Happy travels!
xoxo - Erika
For this holiday, my usual tradition is to cook a lot of food and eat it with family and friends. I think this is how most of us who celebrate Thanksgiving do it. Turkey, stuffing, potatoes, pie, cranberries... Delicious. I thought that it might be cool to get a glimpse back in time to the historical reference point of our modern Thanksgiving.
I have heard the tales of the English settlers in the New World eating peacefully with the native people, learning about which foods they could eat and how to prepare them. They all sat at a big table and ate together or something like that. If I want to take a trip to confirm or contest any of my prior knowledge about Thanksgiving, it's gotta be to Plimoth Plantation, the Smithsonian Institute-affiliated historic site.
Photo from here.
A trip to Plimoth Plantation would be an amazing educational vacation to take with my children. Contained within the site are a 17th century English village, a Wampanoag homesite, and the Mayflower II, a recreation of the original Mayflower ship. Each area has role players or experts in the field to answer any questions about life in those colonial days. The native people who reside in the Wampanoag homesite are all from various modern day tribes, and they speak about the experience from a modern point of view. Role players in the English village (Pilgrims) all pretend to have no knowledge of life after 1627. It would be crazy to talk to them about their lives!I hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day with the ones you love!
Happy travels!
xoxo - Erika
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
#4 - Pacific Northwest Jaunt
Sometimes when it gets hot and sticky outside, and the mosquitoes and sandflies come over just to bite me, I like to imagine a vacation to the Pacific Northwest. My husband is from Seattle, so I've been there to visit several times. It's beautiful and has a nice vibe. I've heard wonderful things about Vancouver, as well, but haven't been yet! I think it's about time that I take a look at what the city of glass has to offer.
Wishful Vacation #4
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Wishful Vacation #4
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Why I imagine I would go to Vancouver:
Upon further investigation, I am a fan of a lot of what Vancouver has to offer - clean city, seafood, cool weather, incredible design. Vancouver is located in the province of British Columbia, and is the 8th most populous city in Canada. It is sometimes called the "city of glass" in reference to its many glass-faced downtown high-rises, most built in the 1970s.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I often heard Vancouver referred to as the Hollywood of Canada because of all of the productions that choose to shoot there. The port of Vancouver is large and active, and the city is a center of software development, aerospace, and bio-technology.
The city has a densely populated downtown center, which is a feature that I love. I like when cities use smart urban planning to get the most out of the land without so much sprawl. The city planners also put a heavy emphasis on environmental awareness and sustainability. Love it!
Vancouver was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. I love watching the crazy winter sports on TV. I think my favorite is the ski jump!
Where I imagine I would stay:
Upon further investigation, I am a fan of a lot of what Vancouver has to offer - clean city, seafood, cool weather, incredible design. Vancouver is located in the province of British Columbia, and is the 8th most populous city in Canada. It is sometimes called the "city of glass" in reference to its many glass-faced downtown high-rises, most built in the 1970s.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I often heard Vancouver referred to as the Hollywood of Canada because of all of the productions that choose to shoot there. The port of Vancouver is large and active, and the city is a center of software development, aerospace, and bio-technology.
Image by Matthew Field.
The city has a densely populated downtown center, which is a feature that I love. I like when cities use smart urban planning to get the most out of the land without so much sprawl. The city planners also put a heavy emphasis on environmental awareness and sustainability. Love it!
Vancouver was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. I love watching the crazy winter sports on TV. I think my favorite is the ski jump!
Image from here.
Where I imagine I would stay:
I really want to experience downtown life in Vancouver, so I would stay at The Fairmont Vancouver. The hotel is gorgeous, even from the outside. The building first opened in 1939, just in time for a visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The hotel was remodeled in the mid-1990s.
I love the look of the Morningside Suite, which is on the 14th floor and has a parlor area overlooking the city. The color scheme totally makes me feel relaxed just looking at it. Check it!
What I imagine I would eat:
Vancouver has a large number of Japanese eateries, and I would definitely take advantage of that! I love sushi. It brings joy to my life that I cannot put into words. Seriously. So, I would like to spend at least one of my dinners in Vancouver at an incredible sushi restaurant. I choose Tojo's.
Of course I would have to have the omakase (chef's tasting menu). Omakase almost always means delicious food plus the excitement of not knowing what to expect! World-renowned sushi chef Hidekazu Tojo's omakase emphasizes local produce and seafood and includes cold and hot dishes.
Picture from here.
I'm so hungry just thinking about this delicious meal!
What I imagine I would do as a fun activity:
Vancouver offers a good assortment of outdoorsy activities, festivals, and cultural events. I would be looking forward most to a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium. Why? Two words - beluga whales. My son and I have a thing for "Baby Beluga," and I think that those smooth white whales are just the cutest things. Have you seen a beluga? Well I will, when I go to the aquarium. I may even get to feed one! And I'm psyched! Can you tell?!
Photo of Delphinapterus leucas (beluga) at the Vancouver Aquarium, taken July 2005 by Stan Shebs
Beluga whales have excellent hearing and may be able to echolocate better than dolphins. They communicate with each other using an array of clicking noises. The blubber that insulates them from the frigid arctic waters is 10-15 centimeters thick!
Have you been to Vancouver or anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest? Do you love sushi? Do you love beluga whales? Where should I "go" next?
Happy travels!
xoxo - Erika
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