Distinctive destinations: from the moors of Scotland to the beaches of Bermuda: far-flung and nearby destinations for nature lovers

Natural History, April, 2004

Bermuda

Bermuda, a 21-square-mile subtropical paradise, is known for its pink-hued beaches and turquoise waters, pastel cottages and pristine gardens, and British propriety. The Island offers splendid golf courses (most with an ocean view) that attract top golfers from around the world and terrific tennis. It is a great place to learn to scuba dive or simply snorkel, with consistently warm water, delicate coral reefs, fascinating underwater caves, and the remains of over 300 shipwrecks waiting to be explored. It also has some of the best boating and sailing the world can offer. For naturalists, Bermuda is lush and alive with natural splendor. It has over 4,500 marine organisms and over 350 bird species, and you can swim with fishes of all colors, shapes, and sizes.

The Island's stunning caves, which many say inspired Shakespeare's "The Tempest," are full of amber-colored stalactites and clear, crystalline pools. Don't miss the Crystal Caves, where a pontoon bridge takes you over the underground Cahow Lake, whose crystal clear depth is 55 feet, and a path walks you through a labyrinth of stalagmites.

The Fall into Spring brochure, available at www.bermudatourism.com, lists daily activities on the island, most of them free, ranging from a high tea at the Royal Naval Dockyard-featuring scones with clotted cream, traditional rum cake, banana bread, and entertainment by steel pans-to a Botanical Beach Walk along the shoreline in Warwick. This interpretive walk will show you the unique adaptations of Bermuda's shore plants to their subtropical environment.

With accommodations ranging from luxury resorts to cottages and inns, it's no wonder so many travelers to Bermuda are repeat visitors.

West Virginia

Almost 80 percent of the Mountain State is forested, with over a million acres of state parks, forests, or wildlife management areas full of spectacular mountains, swirling rivers, and scenic countryside. In Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, nature is always nearby.

West Virginia has the best whitewater rafting outside of Colorado, whether you're looking for challenging, thunderous rapids or just beginning to get your feet wet. Sign up for a river adventure at www.wvwhitewater.com, which offers a range of trips, including tubing, canoeing, and a raft ride on the New River Gorge, followed by a climb up Seneca Rocks.

West Virginia is a rock climber's paradise, with many outfitters offering lessons and expeditions to the state's most popular climbs. From atop the 1,000-foot sandstone face of Seneca Rocks, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Potomac Highlands. For more information about climbing opportunities in West Virginia, contact the New River Gorge National River at 304-465-0508, the Seneca Rocks Visitors Center at 304-567-2827, or 1-800-CALL WVA. While in the area, stop by Seneca Caverns, West Virginia's largest caverns, which are 2,500 feet above sea level and, 165 feet below the surface.

The Mountain State is also an ideal destination for fishing. It has an extensive trout-stocking program, allowing year-round trout fishing, and some of the best fly-fishing in the east.

New Brunswick, Canada

Today I left my footprints on the ocean floor ... Tomorrow I'll open the door to a world of Natural Wonder in New Brunswick, Canada!

Beneath towering flowerpot rocks carved by the World's Highest Tides, you'll find New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy, One of the Marine Wonders of the World. A place where you can walk on the ocean floor, and only hours later, kayak above the very same spot.

New Brunswick's coasts can boast some of the best whalewatching: Minkes, Finbacks, Humpbacks, Blues, even the very rare Right whale and more! Hoist a sail and greet our friendly sea giants!

Take a stroll along the boardwalk of one of the last great sand dunes on the northeastern coast of the continent. The Irving Eco-Centre, La Dune de Bouctouche allows you to observe the delicate dunes and all of their coexisting inhabitants up close.

From the salt-water beaches to the pristine rivers, come inland to explore some of the oldest mountains on the planet. New Brunswick's Appalachian Range will surely awe you with its untouched vastness.

Spend an afternoon stretched out on our scores of sandy beaches or wade into some of the warmest ocean waters north of Virginia. And New Brunswick knows a thing or two about succulent seafood! Shellfish and lobster fresh off the boat await your arrival, and don't forget to try some of the extraordinary Acadian dishes! After a day of craft shopping, spend an evening tucked away in a cosy B&B or in the lap of luxury at a downtown hotel.

From your taste buds to your toes, we're sure you'll enjoy the Natural Wonders here, next door ... in New Brunswick, Canada!

In 2004, there will be Provincewide celebrations commemorating 400 years of European settlement! So visit us on-line at www.Tourism NewBrunswick.ca/Culture or call 1 800 561-0123 and discover the wonder today!

Little St. Simons Island

Little St. Simons Island--a privately owned, 10,000-acre barrier island off the Georgia coast--is a rich and varied natural world. Since the early 1900s, the island's owners have welcomed guests to its unspoiled beaches, maritime forests, beautiful marshes, and meandering tidal creeks. Learn about the island's natural history by way of guided interpretive programs, boating, canoeing, hiking, biking, birding excursions, angling, saltwater flyfishing, and horseback riding.