Hiking Portugal's Longest Trail

Think Portugal and what comes to mind? Of course the vibrant capital of Lisbon, swaths of sandy beaches, rich port wines, fortified hilltop towns, and ruins from Roman and megalithic periods. What about hiking? Probably not. But your next trip to Portugal should include hiking, thanks to a brand new trail, the longest in Portugal. Whether for a day or a week, you'll find that this trail, the Rota Vicentina, is all about authenticity in that the people who created it teamed up with rural accommodations that are locally owned to highlight a part of the country that sees little outside travelers. (And they did it without building a waterfront resort or yet another golf course.)

I recently wrote about my hike along the Rota Vicentina for National Geographic Traveler - Intelligent Travel.

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Fun Learning About Marine Creatures

Who wouldn't want to learn about all the oddly shaped, bizarrely colored and uniquely behaved creatures in the world's seas? But sitting in a classroom listening to a marine biologist drone on about facts and figures or pouring over a dense tome may not be the most fun way of going about it. I just posted a feature on the best ways to learn about sea life in the best places in the world. Sure, we all have a favorite place to snorkel, sea kayak or dive. But what if you could find the healthiest marine environs where there are such a diverse array of organisms, you wouldn't want to leave? This is the list of those 12 best places. And not only the best waters but also the best tour operators or accommodations at each site that will assist you in the fun learning experience in as eco-friendly a manner as possible. Check out where these 12 places are located and all the interesting organisms that call these waters home.

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