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Overview

Introduction

If you're looking to get away from it all without leaving civilization entirely, Block Island is for you. At 45 mi/75 km south of Providence, the population swells in the summer, but Block Island has resisted the kind of rampant overdevelopment that can turn a pleasant hideaway into something closer to a theme park. (To avoid the crowds, go in May or October.)

Most visitors spend their time lying on the beach or fishing from the breakwater, but there are some sights to see on the island, including Settlers' Rock, inscribed with the names of the island's first colonists, and Mohegan Bluffs, which offer great ocean views. Two historic lighthouses overlook the waters—the Southeast Lighthouse and the North Light. The North Light is situated in a national wildlife sanctuary that's home to more than 40 rare and endangered species.

Ferry service to Block Island is available year-round from Point Judith and in peak season from Newport, Montauk (New York) and New London (Connecticut). (If you're transporting a car during the peak summer season, you'll need to make reservations at least a month in advance: Phone 401-783-4613; http://www.blockislandferry.com.) There are flights from the airport in Westerly and occasional charters from the Warwick airport (south of Providence). Rental cars are available on the island, but most visitors walk or rent mopeds or bicycles.

Overview

Introduction

Located on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, this former British research station (Station A) was established during World War II and had a continuous presence through 1962. During the early years before the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, it was more important for nations with territorial interest in Antarctica to maintain a presence if any territorial claim was to be asserted.

Now, this former research station is only staffed in the Antarctic summer as a tourist stop for cruise ships. The station hut has been preserved as a museum with artifacts left over from the ionosphere research conducted there in the 1950s.

The hut is also a Royal Mail Post Office, where tourists can send postcards from Antarctica. Postcards are carried, often by another cruise ship, to South America and then on to the U.K. for processing and distribution all around the world. The Royal Mail Post Office also operates a small gift shop; proceeds go to the Antarctica Heritage Trust.

The post office shares its tiny spit of land with a gentoo penguin colony of around 1,000 birds. It was the subject of a BBC documentary film called Penguin Post Office.

Overview

Introduction

The Tuli Block and eastern Botswana, which begin about 220 mi/350 km northeast of Gaborone, have a real feel of undiscovered Africa about them. The game becomes more plentiful the farther north you travel within the Tuli Block.

The Northern Tuli Game Reserve boasts the largest population of elephant on privately owned land anywhere in the world. The North East Tuli Game Reserve incorporates several privately owned reserves.

Although night game drives are not permitted in Botswana's national parks, they are one of the main attractions of the private game reserves in the Tuli Block. Such nocturnal animals as leopard, lynx, genet, spring hare, porcupine, aardwolf and aardvark can be seen on the after-dark drives.

Accommodations range from luxurious lodges to rustic, self-catering motels and are set in pristine woodlands or overlooking a river. Most lodges offer game and nature walks as well as horse trails and visits to little-known historical sites.