Is The Bahamas Safe For Tourists? Can I Travel To The Bahamas Right Now?

BY  Mashum Jan 26, 2021

A cruise in Alaska is one of the most immersive ways of taking in all the beauty that the state has to offer.  It is one of the best multigenerational vacation ideas you can think of.   Further, cruising in Alaska is crucial for the economy. For example, Juneau has been one of the most popular cruising ports in Alaska.   The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), in association with the McKinley Research Group, has conducted research on the “ECONOMIC IMPACT OF JUNEAU’S CRUISE INDUSTRY.” The 2023 report says,   “The cruise industry accounted for $375 million in direct spending in Juneau in 2023, $320 million of which is attributable to passenger spending; $39 million to cruise line spending; and $16 million to crew member spending. Spending was largely concentrated in the tour/activity ($152 million) and retail ($144 million) sectors.”  Cruising in Alaska is like surfing through paradise. And you know that Alaska will not look the same in the coming years. Global warming is real, and we are losing the ice splendors along with the birds, animals, and marine creatures of Alaska.   So, let’s start cruising!   Cruise In Alaska: Setting New Records With All Its Spectacle  Alaska just celebrated its 65th statehood anniversary on 3rd January 2024, and it’s great that the year looks promising for the cruising industry. You cannot agree more when destination marketing manager for Travel Juneau, Kristi Switzer, says,   “Visitors come for the otherworldly experience of being in the presence of glaciers and fjords, seeing whales and bears and finding the balance of Alaska Native cultural heritage with the rustic sophistication found in the capital city.”  The number of visitors and the days they spent in Alaska also state that Alaska is “the destination” for people looking for exotic experiences. 2,724,180 people visited Alaska in 2022-23, and there were 22,465,847 visitor days.   This season, it’s expecting another major spike in visitors, setting new records. It’s time for you to know why this season and every season in Alaska is special.  1. A Cruise in Alaska Is Affordable Cruising will be the cheapest and easiest way to explore Alaska if you are on vacation for two weeks or even a shorter period.  To cruise in Alaska, your pocket pinch will be around $400 to $2200 per person (cruise-only fare). In addition, there will be port expenses, taxes, and fees.   2. See the Glaciers  Even when there are no port calls, your Alaskan cruise will take you so through some spectacular scenery. When you visit the inside passage there are thousands of islands and hundreds of miles of beautiful rainforests along the shoreline. You will see mountains that rise to at least 3000 feet out of the sea. You get to experience wildlife, such as humpback whales, dolphins, and orcas. However, while these are spectacular, one of the most beautiful things to see is the glaciers. Alaska has thousands of glaciers. Most Alaskan cruises make glacier stops so that you can get an up-close view of these beautiful gifts of nature. 3. Activities for Everyone When in Alaska, go gold panning, kayaking, bear touring, whale watching, dog sledding, fishing, and hiking.  There will never be a dull moment, so book a trip now so you can find the best time to cruise.  Alaska Tourism Impacts   As you cruise in Alaska, you contribute to the state’s economy. In 2022-2023, the direct spending on tourism in Alaska was $3.9 billion.   The overall economic impact, however, was much higher, recording $5.6 billion.   Further, the average trip spending went up to $1,485 in summer 2022 compared to $934 in 2006. (Source)  Cruise in Alaska and tourism based on that are renewable sources, creating and supporting employment to an extent. In 2023, Alaskan tourism supported 48,000 jobs.   Book Your Trip Now  Now that you know what’s special about taking a cruise in Alaska, you shouldn’t procrastinate. Go ahead and book your trip early.  Alaska, being a multigenerational destination, is ideal for cruising with your family. The little one especially loves watching the birds, whales, and other sea animals.   Further, looking at the glowing glaciers and just relaxing on the cruise deck can be the perfect “Aha” moment for you! Let’s go cruising!   Cruise In Alaska FAQs   Are Cruises To Alaska Worth It?  Yes, cruising in Alaska is definitely worth it. Sitting on the decks of the ships, you will get to enjoy the panoramic view of Alaska. You will come across small islands, majestic cliffs, and icebergs.   The trip also includes disembarking at designated locations and exploring the local areas on foot.   What Is Unique About Alaska?  Alaska is unique, with its icebergs and monumental cliffs rising over three thousand feet. It is also a wonderland with fjords, never-ending stretches of forests, and icy splendors.   Get ready to enjoy most of the spectacle at Glacier Bay, Mendenhall Glacier, and Hubbard Glacier.   How Rough Is An Alaskan Cruise?  Cruising in Alaska can be a little rough as your cruise sails through the Gulf of Alaska. However, it is quite seamless when you are in the protected waters of the Inside Passage.   The ride becomes bumpy as the cruise moves toward Anchorage, Whittier, or Seward through the Gulf of Alaska.   What Is Alaska’s Cruise Season?  Alaska’s cruising season starts in May and continues to September. However, if you want to experience sunnier weather and warmer temperatures, July and August are the best months to embark on Alaska cruises.   Read Also: 10 Best Things To Do In San Diego (USA) Why You Should Move To San Diego

BY  Sibashree Jul 9, 2025

22nd September 2025 is the date you must mark if you want to see the Northern Lights during the Autumnal Equinox.  2025 is a special year for watching the Northern Lights. On 25th June 2025, a G2 geomagnetic storm pushed the aurora south. As a result, people in Maine, New York, and the Northern Plains enjoyed the peak viewing experience.  So, are any of these the best places to see the Northern Lights in the USA? Let’s find out where and when to catch the Aurora Borealis.  However, before that, let’s briefly touch upon how the Northern Lights got its name from Galileo Galilei, the best time to witness this natural phenomenon, and other important details. What Are The Northern Lights? What Is The Best Time To See The Northern Lights? The Northern Lights are also known as the Aurora Borealis. The sun releases solar flares due to solar activity. The magnetic field of our planet attracts the flares towards itself. The flares interact with the gases in the Earth's atmosphere, such as oxygen and others. This turns gases into plasma as it is heated to a certain extent. Therefore, the Northern Lights are a plasma state of matter, where the gas is heated to a sufficiently high temperature, causing it to transition into a plasma state. These plasmas appear to be curtains of radiant purple, blue, and red, radiant lights over the skies of the Earth. This phenomenon is especially pronounced near the planet's poles. The best time to witness these lights is during the spring and autumn equinoxes. During these times, the tourists will be able to see longer northern light shows due to the Russell-Macpherson effect.  The Northern Lights can be seen clearly in the polar regions and places with clear skies and minimal light pollution. How Did The Northern Lights Become Aurora Borealis? Gallelio Gaili named the Northern Lights Aurora. The astronomer named it after the Roman Goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek God Boreas. Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn. The goddess flies in a chariot, announcing the arrival of the sun god. The deity symbolizes renewal and a fresh start. On the other hand, Boraes is the Greek God of north winds, storms, and winter. Galileo named the phenomenon of the northern lights as Aurora Borealis in the year 1619. He thought that the phenomenon was caused by the reflection of the sunlight in the Earth’s atmosphere. However, in reality, the phenomenon was caused by the solar flares emitted by the sun. What Is The Best Place To See Northern Lights In The USA? With the boom of astro tourism, watching the Northern Lights has become an important part of tourism in the USA and many other parts of the world. As a subset of special interest tourism, Astro tourism is about to reach $400 million in 2030. No wonder that many Airbnbs in countries such as Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland have specially located and designed properties to watch this celestial magic.  Furthermore, in the USA, national parks such as Grand Canyon National Park and Great Basin National Park, as well as dark sky parks like Headlands International Dark Sky Park, have given a significant boost to tourism centered on Northern Lights viewing or overall astrotourism.  Additionally, observatories like the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) have contributed to the growth of astrotourism in the USA.  So, when it comes to choosing the best place to see the Northern Lights in the USA, we have a lot of options.  Let’s explore! 1. Boundary Waters, Minnesota https://www.instagram.com/p/C-oVf2vg4KH/ Almost four hours from the region of Minneapolis, there lies Boundary Waters, Minnesota. This place offers the clearest night skies, located far from light pollution.  The water body offers a stunning reflection of the beautiful nighttime light show. 2. Upper Peninsula, Michigan https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ4EIvsBK2-/ The Upper Peninsula is near the rugged shores of Lake Superior, as well as the secluded forests of Isle Royale National Park.  The remote location, accompanied by a unique landscape, offers viewers minimal light pollution.  Furthermore, the location offers a clearer view of the Aurora Borealis due to its northern latitude.  Additionally, due to clear skies, the Upper Peninsula is the best place in the USA to see the Northern Lights during winter.  3. Idaho https://www.instagram.com/p/C3g0ADFMhZF/ Idaho, of course, tops the chart as the best place to see the Northern Lights in the USA, as it is the first official Dark Sky Reserve in the country.  Also, including Craters of the Moon National Monument and the city of Ketchum, Idaho, have five designated Dark Skies.  However, most of the Dark Skies are in the southern part of the state. Having said that, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and Priest Lake are northern locations in Idaho for watching the Northern Lights.  4. Wisconsin https://www.instagram.com/p/C4ZIYXar_-M/ Wisconsin is on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. These two lakes make Wisconsin ideal for watching the Northern Lights.  The view is especially more spectacular during the winter as the lakes freeze. Furthermore, two of the most stunning places to visit the Northern Lights in Wisconsin, are Washington Island in Door County or the Apostle Islands. 5. North Dakota https://www.instagram.com/p/C61JconL8kl/?img_index=1 You cannot leave this northern state when it comes to the best place to see Northern Lights in the USA.  The most iconic places to see the Northern Lights in the state are: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Mystical Horizons near Bottineau The Turtle Mountains Moreover, the Martens Observatory at the University of North Dakota streams its celestial observations live on its YouTube channel. So, you can watch the Northern Lights on a real-time basis virtually.  6. Pennsylvania https://www.instagram.com/p/C61Dxs3u28J/?img_index=1 Cherry Springs State Park is a Dark Sky Reserve located in Pennsylvania. The park also has an Astronomy Observation Field, which offers a 360-degree view of the sky.  You can stay in the park the entire night, be a part of the tours, and learn photography to enjoy and preserve the stargazing and Northern Lights watching activities.  7. Alaska Located within the auroral oval, Alaska is the heaven and the best place to see Northern Lights in the USA.  Coldfoot, Utqiagvik, and Fairbanks are the prime locations for viewing the Northern Lights in Alaska. 8. Maine Home to the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, a Dark Sky Sanctuary, Maine is one of the best places in the USA to see the Northern Lights.  However, the abundant rural landscape makes the entire state ideal for stargazing and watching the Northern Lights.  To be more specific, you can explore the east of the Mississippi River to enjoy the best view of the Northern Lights. 

BY  Mashum Dec 9, 2021

Whatever you are doing, do not start the trip to San Diego, and do not even begin planning for it minus this list of things to do in San Diego. You will love them when you get to the destination. The last one in the list is the most populous, therefore hold onto the seat and brace yourself for the thrill and fun things to do in San Diego with your kids, your partner, or while on a solo trip to southern California. 10 Best Things to Do in San Diego (USA): 1. Visit La Jolla: La Jolla is an upscale prime beach in San Diego. It means 'the jewel' in Spanish and it offers cliffs overlooking the ocean which makes it be among the best things to do in San Diego. You will find excellent restaurants to stop at to eat before lovely ocean views. For an active visitor, this is a lot as it includes tide pool hopping, ocean kayaking, and running, biking, and surfing along the beach. You can choose to take a walk along the cliff that overlooks the water and then to the tide pools. Spend some time at the beach then take dinner there enjoying the sunset. 2. A tour to USS Midway aircraft carrier: Given the military ties of San Diego, it is a perfect place for turning the long aircraft carrier into an attraction. Do not skip this one as it is the best thing you can do. You need to note that trip advisors rate this as the first attraction in San Diego making it one of the things to do in San Diego today. This aircraft appeals person of all genders and ages. You need to be fit before visiting this carrier because of the lengthy walking and stairs. You may end up skipping some parts while on the tour. 3. The Balboa Park: The construction of this park was done temporarily during the Panama – California exposition. It became the most beloved part of the city. It has very beautiful buildings that are attractive most likely to photographers. They are among the fun things to do in San Diego as they have surroundings of lawns, trees, and fountains. People and families of all interests and gender enjoy this park. In this park, you can ride a carousel, see a Shakespeare play, walk, ride a bike, or go to the zoo. You will busy here for many days. 4. The Coronado islands: Coronado is much of a peninsula than it is an island. This fact does not go in the way of many individuals visiting there. Whatever the name, it is a narrow strip between the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. This island lacks in size but it has the most fun things to do in San Diego. It has a compact little downtown, and a classic hotel. It gives you a break from the busy parts of San Diego. You can stroll the beach and stop at Del Coronado hotel for ice cream, drink at the bar, and hang out downtown. 5. Harbor cruise: Water bears a crucial role in San Diego. Coronado and Point Loma surround the calm, large bay. With the oceanfront location, there are so many thongs to see on the shore and you can explore them with a boat. Everybody loves city views and this is one of the free things to do in San Diego. You will also see the Pacific fleet while going for a feel at the Coronado Bridge. 6. The San Diego Zoo: San Diego Zoo usually comes on top of lists of zoos and is active in conserving animals. This zoo displayed the first animal in 1916, a Kodiak that was called Caesar. It is totally different from yesteryear zoos as animals are in these most natural settings possible. This zoo is an inhabitant for the populous Giant Panda. This is one of the San Diego things to do because you can see over four thousand endangered animals on one hundred acres land. 7. San Diego Zoo Safari Park: This safari park offers a dissimilar experience for animals. The name is the clue and offers an experience like the safari. Many large animals live in similar areas for keeping predators away. The safari-style tour makes this one of the best things to do in San Diego as it is the closest you will come to see such critters in the wild. Apart from that, you will get other animals in natural environs like lions. You will also see the tamest critters. 8. et to the beach: Go west from anywhere in San Diego and you will get to the beach. After getting there, you will find top things to do in San Diego like surfing, swimming, going for a walk, watching the sandcastle competition, playing with the dog, going on a san diego whale watching trip, and exploring the tide pool. The trick is to know the right beach for you. Despite being a sunny destination, San Diego endures one hundred and two cloudy days yearly and most of them happen in summer. 9. Go with the kids to Legoland: This theme park bears its inspiration from cute little brick toys snapping together to construct fun items. It is among the few things to see in San Diego as it is among the few Legolands in the world. You will find dinosaurs, life-cops, dizzying creators from Lego blocks, but are just decorations surrounding park rides. Kids will find rides for them with their age limit keeping bigger kids from running over them. Adults get a kick for big creations of the Lego. 10. The birch aquarium creatures: The birch aquarium is found in La Jolla, north San Diego. It is not very big as other aquariums or as flashy as big sea-themed parks in California. Instead, it has interesting exhibits and is home to leafy sea dragons. It has improbable creatures that are more similar to those in the book of a kid that they are from the ocean. This aquarium has a nice size and feels great for children, and is of the right price also. Accommodation In San Diego There are some cheap hotels in San Diego County that starts from 49 dollars. if you are looking for a clean place that has a beautiful ambience then these hotel names will help you out. Pleasent Inn (4.1/5). E-Z 8 motel old yown (3.7/5). Motel 6, San Diego, near sea world (3.7/5). The Rambler motel (4.5/5). Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: What should I not miss in San Diego? A: if you are in San Diego and confused about what to visit and whatnot, let e tell you four places that you must visit.  Little Italy. Pacific Beach. The craft beer scene. Glass lamp quarter. Q2: How many days are enough to stay in San Diego? A: The finest city in America that is full of food, adventure, culture, and several neighborhoods to explore, I personally recommend you to stay in the city for at least three days and nights.  Q3: Which is more expensive to visit LA or San Diego? A: LA is 8.2% more expensive than San Diego, the housing costs are expensive compared to housing costs in San Diego as well as the health-related activities.  Q4: What is unique in San Diego? A: There are many but I will name 4 places that are uniquely beautiful in San Diego. An underwater park. A sea cave that is hidden in a small shop. Taco restaurant to show respect to the Mexican wrestlers.  Haunted museums.  Conclusion: Getting to San Diego will make sure that you see it all. You will spend your time there and get back home feeling satisfied. There are so many things to do in San Diego while traveling. Book your travel now and explore the world of fun south of California. Read Also : 10 Best Things to Do in Phoenix(Arizona) 10 Best Things to Do in Prague 10 Best Things to Do in Barcelona (Spain) 10 Best Things to Do in Dublin (Ireland)