Week of October 16th Fast Five!

 

1.    The Cliffs of Girao in Madeira, Portugal.  This is a great little side trip while visiting the outrageous landscape of Madeira.  You can take a tour or a drive to the cliffs and that's not all.  These cliffs are the highest in Portugal, and some of the highest in Europe.  580 meters above ground and water with one of the most amazing views you'll ever see.  What else do you find here?  A glass walkway jutting out from the cliffs that will give you an otherworldly experience.  It's not for the feint of heart or for someone who already suffers from particular kinds of vertigo.  Most of the time the walkway is free.  Sometimes they charge .50 Euro in the summer.

https://myportugalholiday.com/madeira-en/Cabo-Girao-Cliffs-Skywalk-madeira.html

https://redwhiteadventures.com/cabo-girao-skywalk-madeira/

https://www.cabogirao.com/madeira-skywalk.php

https://www.getyourguide.com/cabo-girao-skywalk-portugal-l169724/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cabo-girao-skywalk

2.   Natural Pools in Madeira, Portugal.  Madeira is an island built by volcanoes and as a perk for these events, there are some natural swimming pools around the island.  Porto Moniz Natural Pools in two locations, Seixal Natural Pools, and Pocas do Gomes / Doca do Cavacas are four such places.  Some of the locations have been enhanced to make them more comfortable for the visitor, and some of them have caves, and some of them are completely natural.  It's a surreal experience and they are right on the ocean shore.

https://www.zigzagonearth.com/madeira-natural-pools-volcanic/

https://visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/sea-lovers/natural-pools/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g644297-d1928951-Reviews-Porto_Moniz_Natural_Swimming_Pools-Porto_Moniz_Madeira_Madeira_Islands.html

https://www.wander-lust.nl/best-natural-pools-on-madeira/

https://www.visitacity.com/en/madeira/activities/all-activities?activitiesCategoryId=125027&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D580EVyxpyyuAYmw89Fjdg3dmeLHJPU5fFuwgbqu4bn6N83iXjVVzjwaAhsEEALw_wcB

3.  Did you always want to see France, but didn't have the time to wander such a large and beautiful country?  Well, France has taken the pressure off and put all the best stuff from around the country in one spot.  It is in France; in Elancourt.  It's called France Miniature and it's a theme park.  It has 24 attractions and even some rides to go along with all of France's most amazing landmarks in miniature.  for 20 and 26 Euros children and adults respectively you can hang out all day if you like.  Only in France!

https://www.franceminiature.fr/fr

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1940436-d245003-Reviews-France_Miniature-Elancourt_Yvelines_Ile_de_France.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/france-miniature-park

https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/elancourt/france-miniature-13509173/

https://snippetsofparis.com/france-miniature/

4.    The Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation in Ponta Delgado, Azores, Portugal.  This is the only place in the world where pineapples are grown in hot houses.  While the Azores is a beautiful archipelago, they aren't tropical.  They're temperate, they don't tend to freeze, but it does get chilly.  The plantation grants tours to visitors and educates them on how they grow pineapples.  It's a sweet side trip and wonderful for a rainy day in the Azores, which happens quite often.

https://www.ananasesarruda.com/en/

https://toursofazores.com/2017/09/05/the-sweet-secret-to-pineapples-in-the-azores/

https://world-toexplore.com/a-visit-to-arruda-pineapple-plantation-%F0%9F%8D%8D/

https://azoresgetaways.com/en-us/travel-guide-sao-miguel?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=azg-travel-guide-us-sao-miguel&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D58bHUdaPPKBxQ-ASpbmvZSE1IS0qTbTKqByYcFfimEQ19TF-HiJbPsaAjWMEALw_wcB

https://www.getyourguide.com/-l1664/?cmp=ga&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=15511337747&cq_con=131793214958&cq_term=things%20to%20do%20in%20ponta%20delgada%20azores&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&campaign_id=15511337747&adgroup_id=131793214958&target_id=aud-1393039795340:kwd-339246786412&loc_physical_ms=9003419&match_type=b&ad_id=569262797032&keyword=things%20to%20do%20in%20ponta%20delgada%20azores&ad_position=&feed_item_id=&placement=&device=c&partner_id=CD951&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D59yN_HOeMqzLDo08Qke68uQlVc3AfMq1cjTm0axETUrZBglRMJLjhcaArhMEALw_wcB

5.    Fort Wetherhill State Park, Jamestown, Rhode Island.  This is one of the more unique places I've visited in Rhode Island.  The fort sits atop a 100 foot cliff overlooking Naragansett Bay.  It sits across the water from Fort Adams in Newport and has been located here in some form since the Revolutionary War.  Newport and area was one of the few locations along the coast which includes Long Island Sound to engage in battle and the forts were key.  Today, the entire place has fallen into some ruin, but the place is really interesting to explore and a great addition to any trip to Newport.

https://riparks.ri.gov/History-HistoryFortWetherill

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fort-wetherill

https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-wetherill.htm

https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/listing/fort-wetherill-state-park/8348/

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/rhode-island/fort-wetherill-state-park

So, there you have it.  From Europe, across the pond and back to the East Coast.  Just a few great little things to add to an even greater vacation.  A lot of the items that I run across are found on YouTube and in Atlas Obscura.  They are two of my favorite sources for off the beaten path travel ideas.  So, check it out and enjoy!