Mountain Bälingeberget is an easily reached nature reserve where traces of the inland ice are clearly visible; remains include large areas of rubble fields, shoreline embankments where you can see the different levels of the sea, caves, and long erosion boundaries. Inspection has revealed nearly 200 different varieties of plants in the area. The reserve has a number of easily accessible trails, picnic areas with fireplaces and wood, toilets, and waste disposal facilities. Enjoy a lovely view over the Luleå River from the top of the mountain.

Näsinpuisto Park is the green oasis of Tampere with plenty to do and see: browse the craft shops of Tallipiha Stable Yards or hunt the mini sculptures of the Fairy Tale Park. The Baroque Näsilinna palace, once the home of Peter von Nottbeck, an owner of the Finlayson cotton mill, is also found here, housing a museum and an elegant café-restaurant.

Simply put, Iceland’s famous Golden Circle is a popular route between three of the island's most visited attractions. Usually done as a day trip, the route starts in Reykjavik and takes you south and inland, to the Þingvellir National Park. There you enter the Geyser geothermal area with the Strokkur Geyser being most eager of the bunch. Finally, you arrive at to the 32-metre tall Gullfoss waterfall in the canyon of the roaring Hvítá river. Many tour agents and travellers themselves like to make extra stops along the way to see a geothermal power plant or spend a few hours at one of the spas. You could rent a car and drive between the landmarks at your own speed. In summer, you could even use the long daylight hours to avoid the crowds that tend to come earlier in the day. If you can pick your own route, don't miss the Kerid Crater Lake — a scenic lake that occupies a 3,000 years old volcanic crater that you can easily reach on foot.

Fujitaro Kubota left his home country, Japan, in 1907 and once he got homesick, he purchased a small piece of land in Seattle and started building a Japanese garden of his very own. Over the years, the garden grew to a green space with bridges, Japanese trees, plants and water features. Today, the people of Seattle need not travel far to momentarily capture the sense of being transported to Japan.