Things to Do in Anaheim & Buena Park

The Thap Ba Hot Springs are a destination for travelers who want to experience Vietnamese thermal mud baths as a reasonable rate. Travelers can choose from communal, individual or couple options and sit back and relax into the steaming hot mud of this ancient site. The relaxing oasis offers visitors access to several pools ideal for a quiet swim, as well as a nearby waterfall perfect for unwinding after a serious mineral soak. A couple of on-site restaurants, massage facilities and comfortable sun beds make Thap Ba Hot Springs the perfect place to spend an entire day. Travelers say the helpful staff knows little to no English, they’re still somehow able to always point visitors in the right direction.

Some people come to Nepal for the culture, others to learn about the local Buddhist religion, but the Himalayan country’s dramatic natural landscape is the biggest draw of all. Mt Everest, the world’s tallest peak and the crowning jewel on many a peak-bagger’s bucket list, rises 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level. Even if you aren’t planning to shell out the tens of thousands of dollars it costs to climb the peak, you’ll still find jaw-dropping scenery in spades.

The best time to enjoy the Himalayas and views of Mt Everest are from early March through the middle of May and again from early September through mid-November when temperatures are relatively warm and the skies tend to be clear and blue. From Kathmandu, it’s possible to trek into the Himalayas for a day to multiple weeks, hopping from one village to the next along the way. To see the mountains from above, take a flight tour of the Himalayas or a Mt Everest fly-by.

Just as visitors to Las Vegas pay big money to watch “The Blue Man Group” or “Cirque du Soleil,” so too do visitors to Macau cram themselves into the City of Dreams casino for an evening showing of the “The House of Dancing Water.” Unabashedly referring to itself as one of the greatest shows on Earth, after producers and investors poured over $250 million into the creation of the show the end result is a performance which obliterates any live performance or sensory experience you’ve ever experienced. Handcrafted and created by Franco Dragone, a veteran Las Vegas show maker during the 1990s, the House of Dancing Water has sculpted a storyline and series of effects specifically designed to be infectious and engaging for mainland Chinese visitors and foreign guests alike.

While the holograms, special effects and state of the art sound and lighting are empowering components to the show, one of the most striking inclusions is the integration of a 3.7 million gallon swimming pool into the overall stage. The equivalent of five Olympic swimming pools, the aquatic element of the show is fused with aerial stunts, acrobatics and classic elements of theater which sculpt a love story ranking as arguably the best overall show in Macau. Despite the high price of admission and the fact that it’s performed inside of a casino, the House of Dancing Water is nevertheless a family-friendly event where kids and adults alike are entranced by the shimmering lights and the jaw-dropping stunts which literally take place by the minute.

In Moscow, grand boulevards and massive buildings that seem to stretch for miles are the norm, but some of the city’s most impressive sites are actually found below the streets, in the underground metro system used that transports millions of residents each day.

Moscow’s metro system is one of the busiest in the world and, at 190 miles (305kms) long with 185 stations, it’s also one of the largest. The stations aren’t just transit hubs – they’re a sort of free public art exhibit, and one that tells the history of the city in their design and decoration. The stations were designed so lavishly in the hopes that their beauty would inspire workers on their way to dreary jobs under Soviet rule. These ornate stations eventually became known as “the palaces of the people” for their extravagant architecture. Later, new stations were designed in a slightly more understated way, their appearance reflecting a more austere time in the city’s history.

Some of the most beautiful stations include Novoslobodskaya, with its 32 colored glass panels and mosaics; Prospekt Mira, decorated in marble, granite, and chandeliers; Ploshchad Revolyutsii, an homage to Soviet heroes represented by 76 bronze sculptures; Kievskaya, which celebrates the Ukrainian people with beautiful murals framed by gold-leaf borders; the subdued Mayakovskaya station, with massive overhead lights and large mosaics; and the undisputed crown jewel, Komsomolskaya station with its marble columns, yellow ceilings with white trim, and gold mosaics.

A single ride on the Moscow metro costs just 28 rubles (about 85 cents) so you could easily and cheaply spend an afternoon riding from station to station to see each one on your own. However, a guided tour will help you focus your exploration and provide you with more information as to what makes each station special. Many of the design elements aren’t just pretty; they often symbolize certain aspects of Russian culture or pay tribute to important historical figures and events.

Despite being one of Ireland’s most important historical sites, it’s Tara’s otherworldly views and fascinating archaeological finds that make it such a popular day trip from Dublin. The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in Gaelic, is located in County Meath and was once the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland – a series of grassy landscaped mounds presiding over the surrounding land.

Ancient Irish mythology tells that 142 kings reigned from this mount in prehistoric times and Temair was renowned as the ‘sacred place of dwelling for the gods’. Legend dictates that Saint Patrick, patron Saint of Ireland, also visited the Hill, and a statue of him still reigns proud at the top.

To make the most of a visit to Temair, head first to the Hill’s visitor center, set inside a disused church, where an audio-visual presentation will fill you in on the area’s majestic heritage. Exploring the landscape, you’ll uncover a host of interesting ancient relics including a number of passage tombs and ceremonial enclosures, Neolithic burial mounds and a sizable temple constructed from over 300 wooden posts. Make sure you don’t miss the ‘Stone of Destiny’, an ancient coronation stone that remains one of Tara’s most famous monuments.

Entry to the site is free but the rough terrain means you’ll need to scramble over ditches and up slippery grass mounds, so don’t forget your hiking boots! Best of all are the views and Tara’s summit offers an expansive panorama of the landscaped surroundings – clamber up the hill at sunrise or sunset for the most dramatic view.

Many travelers to the British Virgin Islands make their way to Virgin Gorda to see the beautiful Baths. Laden with exotic pools and grottoes set among sea caves, the site was formed by mammoth boulders, around which explorers can swim and snorkel with crystal clarity.