The effervescent Parrot Mountain and Gardens is located just outside Pigeon Forge and is a must for families, friends, locals, and visitors. The four acres harbor hundreds of tropical birds and thousands of trees, plants, and flowers. Guests are given the opportunity to interact directly with the beautifully plumed birds, petting and feeding them in the designated area. There is even a nursery where guests are welcome to hold the baby birds. Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains is the deck, where lunch from the deli may be enjoyed while the birds serenade. A secret garden is lush with birds flying freely and pathways that display all of the gorgeous flowers.

With its extensive permanent exhibition including paintings, townscapes, photographs and documents, the Stadtarchiv/Stadtmuseum, located at Badgasse, provides an insight into Innsbruck’s historical past. This museum is also venue for numerous events such as special exhibitions, literary readings and lectures.

A true oasis of fauna and flora, the triangle-shaped Reserve covers over 3000 hectares of sea and land including the islands off the east coast: Pinel Island, Petite Clef, Green Cay and Tintamarre. With its rocky coasts, cliffs and beaches, the reserve is home to a host of different species like seabirds, iguanas, sea turtles, and dolphins.

Boats travel along the shores of the Bosphorus from Eminönü, they chug quietly under the bridges that connect Europe and Asia. One hour away is Anadolukavağı, a little Asian fishing village with lots of pleasant restaurants. You can travel to the largest of the Prince Islands with a Seabus, departing from Kabataş below the Dolmabahçe Palace. Ferry terminals in Eminönü and Karaköy on either side of the Galata bridge are good starting points for exploring Istanbul by ferry.