May • 2022
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PLAN YOUR NEXT TRIP
TO ALABAMA’S BEACHES GULFSHORES.COM • ORANGEBEACH.COM
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELLER ADVERTORIAL
Find Relaxation, Adventure, and Fun on Alabama’s Beaches Are you longing to dig your toes in the sand and feel the waves wash over your feet? Or maybe you’re looking to get out and experience the natural wonders of the Coast. Perhaps you’re searching for unique experiences and memorable adventures. You’ll find all of this and more on the beautiful beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Our destination is the ideal spot for an extraordinary beach vacation. Located on the Alabama Gulf Coast, the area boasts over 51 kilometres of gorgeous sugar-white sand beaches, perfect for playing or relaxing. You’ll be in beach mode from the moment you arrive until your final minutes here. While the beaches are incredible, they aren’t the only reason to visit our two communities. The area offers plenty to do, see, and eat. You’ll find endless entertainment with exciting attractions and activities that all ages will enjoy. Get wild at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, make a big splash at
Waterville USA, or shop until you drop at The Wharf. The fun doesn’t stop there either— countless watersports are available, including jet-skiing, paddle boarding, fishing, kayaking, and even more water activities like boating, sailing, and cruises. There are so many ways to reconnect with the natural beauty surrounding you. The iconic Gulf State Park is the ultimate spot for those wanting to immerse themselves in the great outdoors. Inside the park, you’ll find over 45 kilometres of trails perfect for biking, hiking, and running through nine distinct ecosystems found throughout the park. You might even spot some of the local wildlife. Guided Segway tours are also available and provide a unique way to explore the park and learn about its environment. If you’re looking for even more exciting ways to check out the area, embark on a dolphin cruise or go on a charter fishing excursion for a one-of-a-kind adventure.
Our two communities offer various signature experiences that will allow you to encounter the destination in unique and unforgettable ways. Be sure to bring your appetite when you visit. While here, you’ll also enjoy the excellent meals, delectable desserts, and novelty drinks that make up the unique taste of the Alabama Gulf Coast at any of the area’s more than 200 restaurants. Fresh Gulf seafood, mouthwatering burgers, and irresistible desserts are just a few of the delicious eats you’ll find. To complement your meal, choose from a variety of drinks, including locally brewed beers, hand-crafted cocktails, and coastal specialties such as the Bushwacker. Not only are the food and beverages incredible, but so is the dining atmosphere. With waterfront dining, live music, and amazing views of the Gulf, dining out here is unparalleled. Whether it’s feeling the waves wash over your feet, biting into a delicious meal
as you overlook the water, or and get ready to relax, indulge riding a bike along the beach, and explore our stunning memories are waiting to be white-sand beaches. made on Alabama’s beaches. Start planning your next trip to GulfShores.com Gulf Shores and Orange Beach OrangeBeach.com
IMAGES © COURTESY OF GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM
Discover Iran’s Rich Culture in New Nomadic Adventure Reminiscent of the late Anthony Bourdain’s global food safaris that paired a love of food with cultural immersion, Austrian pro skier Fabian Lentsch journeyed to Tehran to immerse himself in Iran’s rich culture. On the yearlong adventure, he discovered the region’s unique ski culture
and untouched slopes in the new documentary film series “Snowmads - A Foreign Native.” Lentsch grew up in the idyllic mountain city of Innsbruck in the Austrian Alps, and by the age of 15, he was already taking on the might of Mont Blanc with his father and winning his
FABIAN LENTSCH AND JULIAN ZENZMAIER ON TOP OF THE SNOWMADS TRUCK © FLORIAN BREITENBERGER / RED BULL CONTENT POOL
first two competitions. In 2015, shortly after securing a spot on the Freeride World Tour, Lentsch pulled out of the competition to forge his own path. He refurbished an old fire truck, filled it with skis and friends, and headed East to explore less vaunted mountain ranges and document his travels along the way. This career-altering decision led to Snowmads—a film project that follows his wildly nomadic adventures. Alongside longtime friend Markus Ascher, the duo has since travelled to Greece, Georgia, and Iran in pursuit of perfect powder and newfound cultural experiences. “As a professional athlete, we’re always travelling,” said Lentsch. “But despite all these travels, I’ve always had this feeling of living abroad somewhere, going one step further, and becoming more than just a foreigner.” During his previous trips to Iran, Lentsch had already made a few friends and explored the sweeping landscape of this culturally rich country. Lentsch explained: “This time, I really
wanted to lose my role as a tourist. I wanted to settle in Iran, get an apartment in Tehran, get a car and become as local as possible.” Lentsch described Tehran as “the most underrated ski town in the world,” and shared: “Tehran is the skiing hub of Iran, and there are four world-class ski resorts within an hour’s drive from the city. There’s also Tochal: a massive gondola in the northern outskirts of Tehran that climbs 3,800 metres to an alpine ski field. In a mega-city, you would never expect this type of access.” Lentsch’s crew packed the legendary Snowmads fire truck and ventured to Namak Darreh, a small village in the Mazandaran Province that straddles the northernmost mountain ranges alongside the Caspian Sea, exploring new untouched tracks. However, the trip was abruptly halted as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold across Iran. His friends returned to Europe, but Lentsch preferred to stay and embrace life in Tehran, learning to speak Farsi and to play the Kurdish Tanbur,
an instrument with over seven thousand years of history. After gaining more confidence speaking Farsi, he decided to hit the road together with Shamayani and Saharkhiz when snowfalls arrived in the south of the country. At Chelgerd in the Zagros mountain range—700 km southeast of Tehran—without another soul in sight, Lentsch and his friends took on the region’s spectacular big mountain lines. Reflecting on his journey, Fabian revealed, “I’ve stopped counting how many people have asked me the same question: Why Iran? Often I answer, why not Iran? In the end, it’s the culture and the landscape and the warm-hearted people that fascinated me from day one. This experience has shown me that we’re all just human beings with the same fears and joys, just growing up with different environments and perceptions of the world around us. It’s not something that should separate us but bring us together. I think we can learn a lot from each other.” (Source: Reuters) ADVERTORIAL
Experience the Best of Maine On your way to or from just about anywhere in New England, Maine’s MidCoast is easy to get to and offers the best of everything in Maine. Shopping, dining, sightseeing, outdoor recreation…the MidCoast is quite literally in the middle of it all. IT’S SIMPLY THE MIDDLE OF AMAZING! A visit to Maine’s MidCoast region is one you will treasure forever. This region is a vibrant and stunningly beautiful natural destination dotted with quaint villages lined with unique shops and world-renowned restaurants. Experience our world-class museums, enjoy our theatres, stroll our beaches, visit our vineyards, and hike our rocky coast. We help build customized itineraries for families, foodies, adventurers, history buffs, and even relaxation seekers at mainesmidcoast.com. They say the quickest route between two points is a straight line, but everyone knows that’s not always the best way to reach your destination. The trip from Portland, Maine to Acadia National Park is a little over three hours if you drive straight through on the
highway—but you’d cruise right past some of Maine’s best art, culture, food, and awe-inspiring natural beauty. Instead, veer off the beaten path and head right up through Maine’s MidCoast: take U.S. Route 1 between Portland and Bar Harbor. Adventuresome types won’t want to miss out on walking these beaches, sea kayaking around a New England harbour, or peeping puffins and whales. The route also features plenty of rainy day activities, including the best lobster roll in Maine (but we’ll let you be the judge) and two excellent maritime museums. So next time you’re travelling in Maine, take the scenic route with stops at any (or all) of these MidCoast gems. And, of course, we have the islands. The islands of Maine’s MidCoast evoke romantic images and light up the imagination in people all over the world. They have inspired some of our culture's greatest art and literature. Tantalizing glimpses of green spruce and pink granite hover on the horizon as one looks out to sea. Our islands are iconic and mysterious, with evidence of human history
going back thousands of years. Some islands are accessible by bridge, and some must be reached by boat—whether that’s one of the ferries leaving from Rockland or a sea kayak (bring your own, rent, or book a tour with one of our wilderness guides.) Pretty much any time of year, you’ll find interesting events going on, large and small. Lobster festivals, music festivals, maple syrup celebrations, parades, and concerts…see our website for the when and where. With plenty of wide-open spaces, Maine’s MidCoast offers everything that makes our state a great vacation without the crowds you find at more popular destinations. When the time comes, do yourself and your family a big favour and head straight for Maine’s MidCoast. Whether you visit Maine to relax or to adventure—or maybe get a little bit of both—Maine’s MidCoast is the place you’ll find what you’re looking for. See life here the way it’s been lived for centuries. Fair warning, you may never want to leave! Maine’s MidCoast…the middle of amazing!
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The best of Maine is all within reach here in the MidCoast.
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