Things to Do in Cairns & The Tropical North

Located in the heart of Berlin’s theater district (near Hackescher Markt),  Friedrichstadt-Palast is Europe’s largest revue theater. The palace is famous for its glitzy, Vegas-style shows from its high-kicking showgirls, acrobats, 60 person-ballet troupe and high-tech special effects.

There are shows catered to the Gay and Lesbian community, as well as a Young Ensemble for kids. For history buffs, the Friedrichstadt-Palast is the last magnificent building of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

During special events, like film festivals, the theatre turns into a cinema. Some of the most famous performers in the world have also graced the palace’s stages like Josephine Baker and Liza Minnelli.

If you were to go back in time and walk down Freak Street (Jhhonchen Tole or Jochen Tole) in the early 1970s, you’d find yourself surrounded by cheap hostels, New Age enlightenment shops, cafes and hordes of the hippies who gave the stretch of road its nickname. While the flower children have moved on since Freak Street’s heyday, the area remains a popular alternative to Thamel for dining and accommodation.

If you find yourself near Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, take the short walk to Freak Street for lunch or dinner at one of the quiet cafes, including a Ganesh restaurant or the tiny cake shop named Snowman. Everything from dining and hotels, to shops selling knick-knacks and bohemian attire tend to be cheaper here than in the more popular Thamel, making it worth a stop even if you’re not staying here.

Frankfurter Dom is the main church of Frankfurt. From the 14th century onwards, kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected in this Catholic church. From the mid-16th century to the late 18th century, emperors were crowned here.

The cathedral has been damaged in the past by fire and warfare, most recently during the WWII. It was reconstructed in the 1950s and has undergone periodic renovation since then. It has been widely recognized as an important national symbol for Germany. The museum has an impressive collection of reliquaries and ceremonial objects.

The Frankfurt Zoo opened in 1858 and is the second oldest in Germany. The zoo contains over 4,500 animals of more than 400 species. If want to experience crocodiles, gorillas, lions and rhinos while in Germany, the zoo is great place to visit. Animal aficionados will find many many exotic animals to observe, from mouse lemurs and galagos over tamanduas to aardvarks, fossas and kiwis.

One of the region’s most renowned producers of Catalonian specialty Cava, the Freixenet Vineyards make a popular day trip for visitors from Barcelona. Built in 1922, Freixenet was started by the Ferras and the Salas, two well-regarded winemaking families whose history of wine production dates back to the 12th century.

The Freixenet vineyards, located in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia in the legendary wine region of Altes Penedes, offer guests the chance to experience the production of the famous Freixenet cava with tours of the winery. Visitors can take a peek into the historic wine cellars, the production areas and bottling plants, where they can learn the traditional winemaking techniques that are still employed today. Most unique is the small passenger train that runs through the 20km of underground cava cellars, transporting guests to the tasting room. The grand finale of the tour, is the opportunity to taste some of the region’s most iconic sparkling wines, among which is Freixenet’s leading cava, the Carta Nevada and the popular Cordon Negro, both available for purchase from the on-site Dolores Ferrer wine shop.

You’ll be in good company drinking at Freixenet – the winemakers have been associated with a number of famous faces over the years, with the brand’s Christmas TV commercials featuring celebrities like Shakira, Antonio Banders, Demi Moore and Sharon Stone.

Among the myriad natural and geological wonders you’ll find in Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park is Freshwater Lake, also known as Warmae Letang. This water-filled volcanic crater sits at around 2,500 feet above sea level, and it’s surrounded by moss, ferns and lush vegetation of Dominca’s interior rainforest, making it great place to spot the elusive Carib hummingbird. As the island’s largest lake, it’s the headwaters of the Roseau River, and a hydroelectric dam at the riverhead provides power to the island. In recent years the lake has become a popular eco-tourism destination with boating and kayaking trips available on the lake itself, and an easy hiking trail that circumnavigates the lake, which takes an hour or two to complete. From Freshwater Lake you can also continue hiking another mile to explore nearby Boeri Lake, which is the island’s deepest.

Cedar Hill was the Anacostia neighborhood home of famed orator, writer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass between 1878 and his death in 1895. Filled with gifts from famous friends like Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Beecher Stowe, one of the home’s most distinctive features is a series of paintings that depict Douglass’ European and American travels, as well as significant events in African-American history.

Family photos around the home reflect Douglass’ two marriages, one lasting 44 years to a black woman his own age, the other to a white women’s rights activist 20 years his junior. Thought to be bi-racial and the son of his own slave master, Douglass defined his two marriages as divided between the backgrounds of his own two parents.