Things to Do in Napa & Sonoma

The majestic snow-hatted peak of Cayambe Volcano serves as a dramatic backdrop to the Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve and at a dizzying 5,790 meters, it’s Ecuador’s third-highest peak. Cayambe’s real claim to fame is its unique location – the highest mountain and only volcano in the world whose summit is crossed by the Equator line. 

Scaling one of Cayambe’s three summits has become a popular challenge for mountaineers, but its difficult terrain and glacial passes means it’s a technical hike unsuitable for beginners. For most visitors, the best way to enjoy a view of Cayambe is by hiking, mountain-biking or horse riding through the scenic foothills of the surrounding Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve.

Once the summer residence of the Russian tsars and now a museum, Catherine Palace was named after Catherine I, who had it built in 1717. The structure was later rebuilt into an elaborately decorated Rococo-style palace in 1756 by Bartolomeo Rastrelli under the direction of Empress Elizabeth, meant to rival the Palace of Versailles in France. Today, the palace is famous for its baroque style and neoclassical interior that exemplifies Russian wealth and extravagance. Its main attractions are the Grand Hall, the opulent Amber Room, which is lined with gilded amber wall panels and ornate furniture, and the 1,400-acre (566-hectare) Catherine Park with its masterful landscaping.

The blue-and-gold Catherine Palace is a highlight for visitors to St. Petersburg, from where it makes an easy half- or full-day trip destination. Many travelers combine a visit to Catherine Palace with a city sightseeing tour of Pushkin or stops at Peterhof Grand Palace and Pavlovsk Palace. It’s also possible to combine a palace tour with a tour of St. Petersburg’s most beautiful Metro stations.

Catherine Palace and Park are located about 12 miles (25 km) outside of St. Petersburg in the town of Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoye Selo). To visit by public transport from the city, take a suburban train from St. Petersburg’s Vitebsky railway station to Pushkin and then catch a bus or minibus to the palace. Alternatively, take the Metro to Moskovskaya or Kupchino and then take a minibus to the palace, or book a small-group or private tour that includes hotel pickup and dropoff in St. Petersburg.

Catherine Palace and Park are open year-round, but the park is best visited in late spring when flowers are in full bloom and in fall when the leaves change colors. The palace’s opening hours vary by season, but the site is generally open to the public Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5pm or 7pm.

After touring Catherine Palace, travelers should definitely check out Catherine Park. More than a dozen pavilions are spread throughout the green space, including the Grotto, the Upper and Lower Bathhouses, the Cameron Gallery, the Creaking Summer House, and the Concert Hall.

Cayma is one of the 29 districts that make up Peru’s Arequipa Region. Some 75,000 people call this place, which covers approximately 246 square-kilometers, home. Adventurous travelers can trek to the top of nearby El Misti, the most popular climb in the area. Those who prefer a more leisurely outdoor adventure can stay close to city center with a number of stunning local parks, including Señor de la Caña, Urbanización Tronco de Oro and Urb. La Explanada.

About an hour outside of Belize City, Caves Branch Outpost has become the adventure capital of Belize. Perched on the Caves Branch River, the outpost offers a range of outdoor adventure activities, including cave tubing, kayaking, horseback riding, zip lining, rock climbing and rappelling. 

One of the most popular and unique activities, cave tubing, sends visitors floating on inner tubes through ancient caves filled with stalagmites, stalagtites and other crystalline cave formations. This subterranean exploration is best combined with a bird’s-eye view; Caves Branch Outpost’s Zipride experience comprises a zip line course that zigzags above the tropical canopy

The Caves Branch Outpost also houses a cafe, gift shop and security lockers where guests can store their belongings while out on adventures.

Cayo Arena, off the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, is a faint whisper of a Caribbean island that barely even exists. This sandy dollop rising up from the reef measures 2,100 square feet—which makes it less than a tenth of an acre of fine, sparkling white sand. After racing across the cobalt sea in a speedboat from Punta Rucia, arrive on the fringes of the coral reef that surrounds the patch of sand.  The island itself is undeveloped—save for some thatched roof huts—and snorkeling in the calm, turquoise lagoon is a way to literally come face to face with curious Caribbean fish. Also known as “Paradise Island,” Cayo Arena is truly a place that’s out of a tropical dream, where sand, sky, and crystal clear water combine to create a Caribbean outpost that seems too beautiful to be real.

This popular natural attraction located just outside of Tirana is the ideal destination for outdoor adventurers in search of an easy day trip from Albania’s capital city.

The stunning and enormous cave offers up incredible interiors and impressive rock formations. Giant stalagmites and stalactites cover the cave and visitors can hear their voices echo off the towering walls. The cave measures some 360-meters deep and at one time was thought to be endless due to its size. Researchers say the cave was once home to a rare species of cave bears and later, during periods of war, was used as a safe haven for villagers.

Known for its artistic atmosphere, the ever-expanding Cathedral Quarter is Belfast’s up-and-coming cultural hub. The former trading district, now home to a number of galleries, music spaces, and trendy restaurants, hosts a number of indoor and outdoor events suited to everyone, including young travelers, foodies, and families.

St Anne’s Cathedral sits at the heart of the historic area, which is best explored by foot. City sightseeing tours usually include the area in their itinerary, or visitors can opt for a more focused political tour for insight into the city’s sectarian past. Alternatively, some round-trip tours of the Antrim coast, including Game of Thrones tours, also offer sightseeing in Belfast.

The Quarter is a 15-minute walk from Great Victoria Street station, and nearby Ulster University Belfast Campus is served directly by the 2a, 2d, and 2e buses. The narrow streets around the quarter are best explored by foot, though there is some paid parking nearby.

The streets tend to be decorated with flowers in spring and summer; winter, meanwhile, brings festive lights and services at the central St Anne’s Cathedral. Aim to explore after working hours to see the neighborhood’s many bars and restaurants come to life.

Get off the beaten path and discover poignant, political, and entertaining murals in the Cathedral Quarter. Find the Yellow Umbrella Passage and follow it into a colorful courtyard—it’s a picturesque setting that will provide good cultural insight. 

Travelers looking for a true piece of paradise will love the remote tropical island of Cayo Levantado. Home to a beautiful luxury hotel, white sandy beaches, lush rainforest and incredible snorkeling and diving, Cayo Levantado is a true Caribbean experience.

Sip tall tropical drinks beachside or dance the night away to one of the energetic local salsa bands. Wander the hillsides for epic views of the surrounding ocean, then comb through local gift shops for interesting finds to commemorate a trip to one of Dominican Republic’s most 

incredible islands. Later, relax in one of the handmade hammocks while the ocean breeze lulls you to sleep.

While the island is a perfect escape from the hustle of the Dominican Republic’s more urban cities, there’s still plenty to do, see and experience. Outdoor enthusiasts can kayak, snorkel, rent pedal 

boats and even get up close with friendly sea lions.

One of the top scenic drives in Great Britain, this 130-mile (212-kilometer) route winds along the craggy coast of Northern Ireland. Stretching from Belfast all the way to Derry, the Causeway Coastal Route leads to castles, cliff walks, beaches, waterfalls, Game of Thrones filming locations, and other scenic locales. 

While the Causeway Coastal Route can be covered in a matter of hours, most visitors take several days to properly explore it, stopping at various sites en route. Key parts of the route are often included as part of organized sightseeing day trips from Belfast. These may include the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, the Dark Hedges in Ballymoney, Dunluce Castle, Ballintoy Harbour, and Downhill Strand. 

The best way to explore the Causeway Coastal Route is during a self-guided road trip or by organized tour. From Belfast, follow the A2 road north along the coast. Travelers departing from Derry should take the A2 toward Limavady. 

The Causeway Coastal Route is drivable year-round, with road closures extremely rare. As many of the attractions are outside, however, you may want to go in summer when the weather is typically warmer and daylight lasts for up to 18 hours. 

In addition to the Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, this driving route also leads to some lesser-known but no less spectacular attractions. See the Norman-era Carrickfergus Castle, follow cliff-face walkways on the rugged Antrim Coast at the Gobbins, walk amid the scenic Glens of Antrim, and sample whiskey at the Old Bushmills Distillery. 

Permanent exhibits include a natural history gallery that explains how the islands were formed along with depictions of the underwater life you can see while snorkeling or diving here. A cultural history gallery offers insight into the Cayman Islands during colonial times and the era’s main industries of turtling and fishing. A handful of changing galleries include a kid’s gallery with hand-on activities so children can learn while also having fun.

The story surrounding the Cave of the Seven Sleepers recalls the story of a several young men who sought refuge in a cave out outside Ephesus to escape persecution under Decius, roughly around year 250. Indeed, this courageous group refused to obey the greedy king, which had forced his entire kingdom to worship idols he himself selected, and chose to flee their homeland and pursue their faith in God instead. They woke up some odd 200 years later, only to find out the world had completely changed and Ephesus had become a place of freedom for all Christians. They all died a natural death many years later and were all buried in the cave in which they had slept for so long. The grotto was quick to become a major pilgrimage site, and several people asked to be buried there along with the Sleepers over the following centuries.

Today, the area surrounding the Cave of the Seven Sleepers is technically fenced off but most visitors take advantage of the poor state of the structure to climb over and get full access to the cave, where they can visit the church in which the sleepers were buried; there also are numerous 5th-century terracotta lamps, which depict scenes from the Old Testament and various pagan scenes from Greek and Roman mythology and prove the existence of paganism in the region.

Located in the lush surrounds of Whiteman Park, Perth’s Caversham Wildlife Park is home to Western Australia’s largest private collection of native wildlife. The park has more than 200 species of fauna, with a focus on native Australian animals such as koalas, wallabies, possums, Tasmanian devils, and wombats.

A Caversham Wildlife Park entry ticket includes full access to the park’s many attractions, as well as daily events such as live shows and animal-feeding demonstrations. Most visitors choose to visit on a day trip from Perth; you can combine a full-day tour with other area activities, including a 4WD drive tour of the Darling Ranges, a wine tasting in the Swan Valley, a visit to the Pinnacles desert, or a sandboarding adventure down the Lancelin dunes. 

Caversham Wildlife Park, located inside Whiteman Park, is about a 30-minute drive north of central Perth. There are two main entrances to the Whiteman Park—Lord Street and Beechboro Road—and also buses from Bassendean Railway Station stop at the Lord Street entrance, most visitors arrive either by private transport or as part of a guided tour from Perth. 

Caversham Wildlife Park is open daily year round. The busiest time to visit is during the summer peak season (December and January) or during school holidays. Weekdays outside of these times are generally much quieter. 

Caversham Wildlife Park highlights include supervised walks through the kangaroo enclosure; an interactive farm show where you can try your hand at shearing a sheep or milking a cow; and photo opportunities close to wombats, koalas, and kangaroos (additional fees required). There’s also Penguin Island, where you can watch the penguins being fed, and Molly’s Farm, where you can learn about cows, goats, and chickens.  

The quiet Cappadocian village of Cavusin is famous for three things: beautiful churches, abandoned rock houses, and great hiking opportunities. The village is dominated by its cliff from which a clutter of empty cave houses spill down precariously, making for a fun place to explore. The area of the village where people live today is nice and quiet — most people work in agriculture and you’ll see that the little cafe by the mosque is the local hotspot. 

At the top of the cliff which looms above the village, look out for the famous Basilica of St John the Baptist. It dates back to the 5th century AD, making it one of the region’s oldest cave churches. It’s also one of the biggest cave churches in Cappadocia. You’ll enter the 1,500 year old chapel via a footbridge. Once inside, notice the chapel’s grand arches and images of crosses and stars. In the village, there's also the lower church to check out. Dedicated to the famous Cappadocian general Nicephorus Phocas, who was victorious in the Byzantine era, this church dates back to 960 AD.

The village of Cavusin is also the starting point for hikes into Rose Valley, Red Valley, and Meskendir Valley. 

If there were one drink associated with the Caribbean that drink would definitely be rum. Here at Cayman Spirits Company Co. Distillery, not only is rum distilled with cane juice that’s locally grown on the island, but it’s aged in barrels that are placed 42 feet, or seven fathoms underwater. The result is their famous Seven Fathoms rum, which due to it being rocked by the waves as it slowly ages in the barrels, has become one of the most sought after spirits on any Caribbean island. While it started out in 2008 in a small, single room building, the distillery has grown from its humble beginnings to include a 5,000 square foot building that houses their tastings and tours. Learn the process behind distilling and see the massive tanks, and  pour yourself samples of Seven Fathoms or their spiced and flavored rums. The company also distills vodka and moonshine, though it’s the rum that keep visitors strolling through the doors in search of not just the perfect drink—but the perfect gift to take home.

Insiders's Tip: Considering all of the free samples, definitely plan to take a cab when visiting Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery.