Insider Tips for Traveling in Orlando with Children

BY  Abdul Aziz May 14, 2021

Himachal Pradesh is blessed with plenty of gigantic mountains, Himalayas, mesmerizing waterfalls, captivating forests, and flawless landscapes that can be explored altogether when you are going trekking. Despite being a popular mountaineering destination, many treks in Himachal are still unexplored or less trodden by.   Let’s know about these exceptional trekking destinations in Himachal that are awe-inspiring.  The Best Unexplored Treks in Himachal   Have you ever wondered what you can expect while visiting the unexplored treks in Himachal? You can soak in the pristine of nature. Further away from the hustle-bustle of tourists, trekking on these lesser-known routes ensures an immersive or spiritual experience.   In addition, despite being off-beat locations, these places offer exciting activities like skiing and paragliding. So, get ready to hit the trails.   1. Chanshal Pass, Shimla  Duration: 5-6 hours  Chanshal Pass, the highest peak in Shimla district, is situated at an altitude of 4600 meters (about half the height of Mount Everest). It is a rare, very unforeseen place for trekking. A few years ago, no one knew about this place, as there was not an appropriate road to reach this hidden paradise in Himachal.  Now it is easy to visit this place. If you are looking for such exciting trekking, this is perfect for you. A night stay can be a problem as Larot has very few guest houses. From Larot, you can start trekking towards Chanshal Pass. It offers thrilling views around the valley, suggested for anyone interested in trekking or photography.  May to October is the best time to go on this trek when the route remains open. The small town of Rohru connects the villages of Dodra and Kawar. Here, you can camp overnight, and away from the sounds of the city, you will glimpse many stunning scenic vibes found during the trek that cannot be described in words or sentences! You must stay here and feel this fascinating destination's vibes.  2.Ting-Ting Pathar at Kufri  Duration: One Hour Hike  The Ting-Ting Pathar is a place for those who want to experience the unrivaled and offbeat. So, if you are craving to explore such unexplored destinations, this could be one of your possibilities.  Apart from all the popular treks of Kullu-Manali, the Kufri trek is unique. It is the shortest trek in the Kullu Manali valley of Himachal Pradesh, which is open for the whole year from January to December.  The treks have lush greenery meadows that make the adventure exciting during the summer season from April to August. When you go trekking during the winter season, it gives you completely different vibes, and you can see snowy mountain canals all around.  So, whether you go in winter or Summer, both seasons provide different views and experiences of Ting-Ting Pathar in Kufri.  Your trek starts from Kufri and takes one hour to get there. You will reach a place in the meadows with big rocks called Tin Tin Pathar, which echo like a bell when they hit each other. So, its name is Tin Tin Pathar. If you hit these rocks with each other, it sounds like metal.  3. Manatali Lake Trek, Parvati Valley  Duration: 6-7 Days  Situated at an altitude of 4200 meters (about half the height of Mount Everest), Mantalai Lake is a high-altitude trek in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. One of the unexplored treks in Himachal, the Manali Lake Trek, continues alongside the Parvati River.   This trek can be considered a moderate to difficult trek, and you need some sort of basic trekking experience before you attempt it.  The trek can be done within 6-7 Days, depending upon one’s fitness. The trek starts from Bhuntar, which is approximately 30 kilometers (about 18.64 mi) away from the famous village of Kasol.  The best time to visit Mantalai Lake is mid-September till the first week of October after Monsoon. The trek is not feasible in winter due to heavy snowfall and zero supplies in the upper region.  4. Miyar Valley Trek, Lahaul Spiti Valley  Duration: 4to 5 Days  A less well-known destination, trekking the Miyar Valley in Himachal is a dream come true.  Miyar valley trek is one of the Himalayan treks which mainly consists of a flat walking path.  The Miyar Valley trek starting point is Lahaul, Gumpa. From Yosemite in the Himalayas, the stunning Miyar Valley trekking from Shuoto Village.  Here, you can explore the surrealistic side of nature with the Miyar River in vast pastures. During this trek, you will have a chance to glance at medicinal plants, snow leopards, Himalayan brown bears, and countless migratory birds, along with sapphires, ruby rocks, and seven crystal green glacial lakes.  During this trek, you have to follow the Miyar River, which reunites with the ChandraBhaga River near the Udaipur village. The open valley supports several glacier systems.  The best time to visit Miyar Valley is May to June and September to October. It is ideal for trekkers who want to explore something completely different. The difficulty of this trek is considered moderate to Difficult. Therefore, you need some sort of trekking experience to make this trek.  5. Churdhar Trek, Sirmour District  Duration: 3 days  If you are a person who is always craving for something unexplored and exceptional trekking, then this 48 km long trek is worth your time and energy.  Located in the Sirmour district of Himachal, Churdhar Treks offers you a sight that will never leave your eyes or heart. May to November is the ideal time to trek to this place. It is one of the tallest peak treks, and its height is around 12,000 feet (about the height of Mount St. Helens) above sea level.  It's easily visible from Shimla, Kasauli, and Kufri due to its own height.  There are three main routes for trekking up to Chudhar Peak. The Chopal is the first and shortest route, with a trek distance of 7 km, located in the Shimla district. Nohra Dhar is another best route for trekking, which is 20 km (about twice the height of Mount Everest) from it. Haripurdhar in Sirmaur district has the longest trekking distance, with a trek distance of 50 km (about 31.07 mi). It is a magnificent trek where you can find solitude in the mountains at every point during this trek.  6. Mural Danda Trek Near Shimla  Duration: 1 Day  The Mural Danda trek is another rare, well-known, but one of the best short winter treks in the  Pabbar Valley, which has a maximum altitude of 14,000 ft (about half the height of Mount Everest).  Mural Danda is the hilltop of Singuri, mostly famous for its medicinal herbs with different abilities to cure injuries.  There are various routes to trekking this place, but the most beautiful and approachable is from Sungri. Sungri is a small village situated in the Pabbar valleys. The amazing trek near Shimla is trans-Himalayan, which is the endpoint of the Baspa ranges.  The trek takes you through contrasting colors of the snowy trail, Rhododendrons, Oak forests, and open meadows, making it a stunning trek. Starting from the scenic view of a Singuri village, every mountain range looks amazing while trekking.  This region is unique for its exotic plants and Herbs. You can also get to explore famous caves on the way to the Peak. Enjoy the raw and gorgeous Mural Danda winter trek, which is best visited between December and March due to its magical snow-clothed landscapes.  Bon Voyage!  At various altitudes, the unexplored treks in Himachal offer a chance to see nature, wildlife, and biodiversity. However, you need to consider some extra preparations before you start to trek as these places are less trodden by. You must be careful about the gear you pick and work more on developing your physical and mental endurance levels.  So, are you ready to hit any of the trekking routes I have mentioned here? Or have you been to these less-explored places already? Don’t forget to share your insights with us!   Read Also: 15 Interesting Facts About India That Every Traveller Should Know The Easy Way To Travel In India

BY  Abdul Aziz Oct 27, 2021

Italy….. Words will fall short if Italy has to be described. It’s a feeling rather.  There is so much to love. Perhaps too much for a single lifetime!  When talking about Italy, there are emotions that need to be mentioned. The food, the art, the romance, and the wine cheese combination. Besides these, there are plenty of reasons to fall in love with Italy.  Love in Italy is something else, it’s like the word love itself is speaking to you.  How can you not fall in love with Italy when it has a capital like Rome?. Italy will leave you sorpresa!  This article will give you 10 facts that will make you fall in love with the country, desperately, hopelessly, and unconditionally.  Italian Food Since I am a foodie, I had to start with food first.  When people love to solo travel they are concerned about one thing the most, and that is food. Because a lot of your mood and health depend on it.  Well, you don’t have to even think about it, when you are traveling to Italy.  Italian cuisines are the best, in my view, they are so lightweight, that you will hardly fall sick by consuming those delicious foods. Food in Italy not only gives your tongue pleasure but also leaves you in awe.  The traditional food as we know of Italy are pizzas, pasta or calzones.  They are as big as the size of your head.  Each cuisine is made with perfection. Love in Italy means food. Italian Way of Living  The Italian way of living is very different, as they believe in unity, harmony, and a positive mind.  The first thing for an Italian is Family, then comes the culture, food, music, and not to forget the wine.  The traditions of Italy are very overwhelming.  They love living a life that is free, full of love, and fun.  Love in Italy also means love for the country and its culture.  They do know very well how to live a balanced life.  Italian House Wine and Cheese  When you are in Italy, and you enter a restaurant, the waiters don’t only offer a big smile, a slurping menu, but also their house-made wine.  Wine in Italy is made by everyone.  You can even be offered some if you visit somebody’s house. Every wine from every individual tastes better than the other.  Have you tasted the cheese they make with the wine? Both of them complement each other so well and scientifically it is the right way of having alcohol. They do this to preserve their tradition and reputation. Love in Italy shows the love for wine and cheese. Gelato  No, stop it right there. Don’t ever call a Gelato an ice cream.  It is nothing like ice cream.  It is made of decadent chocolate flavor and a distinctive charcoal flavor.  Once you have it, it is just perfection.  You might wanna fly again to Italy just for a Gelato.  Love in Italy is a mixture of wafers and authentic flavors.  Italian Coffee  You are in Italy and you haven't had the first coffee after landing? Psssstttt!.  Life is of no meaning if it is not about coffee in Italy.  People who never liked coffee will also fall in love with the wafting aroma of coffee. Love in Italy is love for coffee.  Italian Architecture  If you look at the cities of Italy you will see how beautifully the place is decorated. The architecture will leave you surprised.  Venice, the love in Italy has the most picturesque scenario or you can call it canals Florence has the most appreciated and incredible structures, Cinque Terre, can be called the home of colorful houses. Churches-In Italy Like every religion, being close to their God shows the loved one has for its culture. Waking up in the morning and listening to church bells loud enough to purify your soul and connect you directly with God is what love in Italy means.  While you have started your morning coffee ritual, close your eyes and let everything sink in. Italian Art Whose name did you miss? Leonardo da Vinci or Raphael or Michelangelo? Oh, common Italy is considered to be the house of elegant paintings and art.  You will keep looking at the arts for hours and still, you won’t get enough of it, that's how beautiful they are.  If you have decided to visit the masterpiece then do explore Florence, The Uffizi  Gallery where you will be able to please your eyes by looking at the statue of David and Duomo.  Italian Romance  No one in the world can make romance more romantic than Italy, especially in the countryside, Tuscany.  It has a different vibe, where you will just feel like loving and being loved.  Love in Italy speaks a language that only lovers understand.  Tuscany is romantic for its wineries, villas, and rolling hills.  There are cottages as well, where just the two of you can enjoy every bit of the moment.  The Italian Dolomites There is a reason behind making the pale mountains of Italy a UNESCO world heritage site.  They are gorgeous and beautiful and stunning in every way.  They will make your heart skip a beat.  The coolest thing about mountains is the culture they have, it's a mixture of the Alps, Italy, and Germany.  Wrapping up  Italy is a place you must visit. Save money for it, because in this one life you have to get everything, see everything, especially the best of the bests.  You can’t sit back and read this article and be sad about the current situation.  Maybe you are stuck with responsibilities or cannot take a break from work for a vacation or just cannot afford it. If you want something really bad from life, the universe will make sure you get it!  So, leave a comment below in the comment section and share your experience with us.  Read More: 6 Best Delicious Destinations That You Can’t Miss  Traveling Taught Me To Love Myself & Look At Life, Differently 9 Things Every Traveler Should Know When Visiting Shanghai 15 Most Exciting adventure Ideas To Go With Your Friends

BY  Sibashree Oct 28, 2024

With mountains, faults, monoliths, deserts, and unique geological formations, Joshua Tree National Park has emerged as an important ecological hub of California. Further, as the name goes, the park has the most amazing Joshua Tree, a Yucca palm species that became famous with the Joshua Tree album by U2.  Spanning 800,000 acres and situated at 5000 feet above sea level, this national park is like a natural tapestry. Further, 85% of this national park is still pristine wilderness. So, there is no wonder that a place like this harbors the best secrets and fun facts that are yet to be explored.  Here, I will share some amazing info about the park’s history, fossils, cryptobiotic crusts, and more. Joshua Tree National Park is about to complete 30 years of its designation as a national park on 31st October 2024. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designated it as a national monument in 1936. Things No One Talks About Joshua Tree National Park  The basics are boring! There is no fun in visiting a place that does not have stories to tell. However, this national park, designated in 1994, has mountains and ecological units that echo the tales of history, changes, and humanity.  Let’s get into the stories, but before that, let me give you a brief account about when and how to visit the park. September to November is the best time to explore the park due to pleasant weather conditions.  Further, the Annual Night Sky Festival occurs in the park in October. It’s a delightful experience for people of all age groups. Thomas Crochetiere writes many fascinating stories about Joshua Tree National Park in his “The History of Joshua Tree National Park: A historical, informational, and educational timeline of Joshua Tree National Park.” If you are interested in the park’s history, you can grab a Kindle edition of the book.  1. Fascinating Historical Tales About Joshua Tree National Park  Human history in Joshua Tree National Park is as old as 15000 years. Two archaeologists, William Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell, further discovered the existence of Pinto culture in this park. Pinto Culture In The Park  People belonging to this Pinto Culture used to stay in cool grassland environments here, and they were primarily hunters. Pinto culture in the national park was discovered by archaeologists thanks to the triangular-shaped spears, scraping and cutting tools, and seed-processing tools.  All the implements that established a Pinto connection to the place indicate that the Pinto people led a bohemian lifestyle. Along with hunting, they also practiced seasonal harvesting.  Native Americans Occupying Joshua Tree National Park  Europeans came to Joshua Tree National Park in the late 18th century. However, the park had three groups of Native Americans. They followed the Pinto culture, thriving locally in the park. These three tribes were: Cahuilla Serrano Chemehuevi The Chemehuevi tribe was the latest to occupy the national park, and they came to this park from the Great Basin of Nevada in 1500.  All these tribes adopted the tools of the Pinto people, and they improved and diversified them.  Cattlemen First Occupied The Joshua Tree National Park  Joshua Tree National Park has every element of a Western movie. The western side of the park had higher elevations during the 1870s. These areas also received a higher rainfall and had different species of native grasses.  As a result, many cattle owners used to flock to these parts of the park for cattle grazing.  William “Bill” McHaney was the earliest cattleman in this park. He was a legendary figure, and he took his Texas Longhorns to these higher valleys. He will be known for living in the national park and exploring the area for around 60 years. Further, his brother, Jim, built a gang to steal cattle from Mexico and Arizona.  Discovery Of Gold In Joshua Tree National Park  The 19th century was the biggest highlight in the Joshua Tree National Park. Miners flocked to this park in great numbers for the discovery of gold. Twentynine Palms was the first area to have mining expeditions in the park in the late 1860s.  The presence of water in the Oasis of Mara was the main reason behind extensive mining expeditions at Twentynine Palms. Gold was collected from dirt using dry washing. The process was fun, and it involved throwing dirt mixed with dust into the air. The dirt was caught as it came down in the air, and this process continued until the mix only had gold dust.  Desert Queen Mine was a more successful gold mining venture in the park. It was Frank L. James, an employee of the Lost Horse Mine, who discovered the vein of gold in the Northern Queen Valley. Unfortunately, he had to lose his life at the hands of  Charles Martin. Martin was a part of the notorious cattle-rustler gang of Jim McHaney. Jim McHaney was the brother of William “Bill” McHaney, a legendary figure in the park.  Joshua Tree National Park Had An Important Role To Play During World War I  The dry, desert climate of Joshua Tree National Park was beneficial for the war veterans suffering from the effects of the mustard gas. This gas was so lethal that it had to be banned after World War I. Did You Know?The Geneva Gas Protocol Treaty, signed in 1925 by most countries, banned the use of biological and chemical weapons in war.  Germans introduced mustard gas in 1917, and any contact with the gas used to cause skin burns, blisters, and respiratory problems. Patients hit by this gas needed to get hospitalized for the treatment of chemical burns and respiratory issues.  Moreover, the survivors of the mustard gas attacks had greater risks of developing cancer.  2. Fossils Of Joshua Tree National Park  https://www.instagram.com/p/ClHXsRDS2Xq/?img_index=1 The fossils in the Joshua Tree National Park tell us about the geological evolutions, extreme natural events, and biodiversity. So, what were the animals that roamed here when the earth was a cooler and greener space? Let’s have a look at the list below.  Columbian mammoths Dire wolves Camels Horses Llamas Giant ground sloths Saber-toothed cats  Bison American Pronghorn Did Dinosaurs Live At Joshua Tree National Park? Scientists believe that Joshua Tree National Park had dinosaurs. Some of the oldest rocks in the park are from the dinosaur era. However, being metamorphic and igneous, these rocks could not preserve the skeleton of the dinosaurs. So, there is no “black and white” evidence regarding the existence of dinosaurs in the park yet.  The oldest fossil found in the park is the tooth of a pocket gopher. It was found in a 7.8 million years old sediment. The park has many other microfossils that are even older.  Moreover, the midden of the pack rats has been a gold mine for finding plant and insect species. At least 12 species of plants were found in the midden, and the oldest was around 30,000 years old. In addition, the darkling beetle fossils in the midden come from various ages. The oldest dates back to  34,000 years ago, and the latest is as old as 1000 years old.  Above all, the human artifacts and bones collected in this midden speak of human history and the evolution of their lifestyle.  3. Cryptobiotic Crusts Of Joshua Tree National Park  What are cryptobiotic crusts? They are hidden biotic organisms present on the surface of the park soil. Blue-green algae or cyanobacteria are the leading cryptobiotic crusts at Joshua Tree National Park. The other forms of cryptobiotic crusts present in the park soil are: Mosses Lichens Microfungi Bacteria Green algae Now, these cryptobiotic crusts are important to bind the sand and soil particles of the park together. In other words, they prevent soil erosion caused by wind and water.    4. Spiritual Stories And Symbolism Around Joshua Tree National Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZKnQRkWzLI “The Joshua Tree” album by Irish band U2 brought the spiritual connection or symbolism around the Joshua trees in the park under the spotlight. The album explores the gap between the promised land and the real land of America. The desert also stood for the desolation of the soul, while the Joshua trees, surviving in extreme weather conditions, became the symbol of hope and prayer. However, you must go back around 180 years to trace how Joshua trees have always been associated with symbolism and Biblical stories. In the 1850s, the Mormon pioneers crossed the Mojave Desert and saw these trees.  The upraised branches of the trees reminded them of Joshua, who stretched his arms to the sky for prayer and led the “Israelites into the Promised Land.” So, this is how these Yucca Palm trees got their new name.  5. Joshua Tree National Park Is The Best For Stargazing  As International Dark Night Sky, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the best places in California for stargazing. The following parking lot areas are best for Joshua Tree National Park stargazing. Hidden Valley Ryan Mountain Quail Springs Cap Rock Along with these places, you can also choose Pinto Basin for an amazing stargazing experience.  How To Reach Joshua Tree National Park? Joshua Tree National Park has three entrances. The table below details these entrances and will help you pick the right one based on the location you are traveling from. Park Entrance GateLocation Ideal For Tourists FromWest EntranceAt Park Blvd Off Highway 62Los AngelesPalm SpringsSan DiegoNorth Entrance29 Palms, Off Highway 62Las VegasSouth EntranceCottonwood Spring, Off Highway 10Salton Sea area The West Entrance is the main entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. You must drive through California Highway 62 or Interstate 10 road to reach here.  Further, if you are traveling by air, you must reach Palm Springs Airport, and from there, you can rent a car. The Los Angeles International Airport is also 150 miles away from this park.   Also read Why Include Whale Watching In Your LA Itinerary. Traveling On A Budget: Tips For Affordable Adventures. From Cocktails To Kickflips: Must-Try Activities In San Diego.