Things to Do in Washington Dc

Southwark (pronounced ‘suth-ark’) Cathedral, officially called the ‘Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie,’ is located close to London Bridge on the south bank of the Thames River. Today, railway lines and office buildings, including the historic Borough Market, surround the old cathedral. The calm churchyard on the south side of the cathedral is a popular place for local office workers to enjoy their lunch hour – weather permitting. Although the interior of the cathedral is relatively modern (it was begun in 1890), traces of the past are still present there. Remains of the 13th-century arcading can be found in the south aisle, and in the north aisle a wooden effigy of a knight dates from 1275.

Also of note is a monument to the playwright William Shakespeare (the cathedral holds an annual birthday service for ‘The Bard’), which can be found beneath a stained glass window depicting characters from his famous plays. The cathedral was once a riverside priory, and the cloister-style courtyard is on the site of the original cloister that was used during those times. To the north, a more modern development includes the refectory and a gift shop with specially commissioned Southwark Cathedral products. An ancient alleyway, now a pedestrian walkway called Lancelot’s Link, separates the cathedral’s old and new buildings.

The extravagantly decorated Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia—and a popular stop for locals and visitors navigating the streets of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown. Rising 75 feet (23 meters) above the busy marketplace, the temple’s five-tiered tower is adorned with colorful tiles, precious stones and hundreds of carvings of Hindu deities, rendering the building a popular attraction as well as a place of worship.

The main prayer hall inside the temple is as ornate as its exterior, with murals and frescos lining the walls and shrines beneath the embellished dome ceiling. At the back of the complex, you’ll find the shrine of South Indian mother goddess Mariamman, also known as Parvati, as well as smaller shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga. During the Hindu festival of Thaipusam, held in January and February, the sculpture of Lord Muruga is transported from the temple to Batu Caves on a silver chariot, drawing crowds in the tens of thousands.

You can visit Sri Mahamariamman Temple on a walk through bustling Petaling Street or as a part of a variety of cultural heritage tours, including city walking and night tours. Expect to be in the company of devotees in prayer, especially if visiting early morning or late evening.

The Serbian town of Sremski Karlovci seems to have it all, combining history, religion, and wine with sheer charm and beauty. This is one of the most picturesque towns in Serbia's Vojvodina region, with its well­-preserved baroque and neo­classicist architecture making you feel as if you’re wandering the streets of Prague or Bruges instead.

There’s much to see and do on a trip to Sremski Karlovci, so it’s best to opt for a day trip from Belgrade so you can take in all of the town’s major sights, such as the Four Lions Fountain, the Treasury of Patriarchy residence, and the St. Nicholas orthodox cathedral. Many also choose to combine a visit here with a tour of the Fruska Gora monasteries.

Because Sremski Karlovci happens to be one of the most prominent spots on Serbia's wine route, another option is to visit as part of a Vojvodina Province day tour, where you can sample the town’s wares in a wine cellar and combine it with a visit to the city of Novi Sad.

If your children have trouble choosing between the playground or splashing around in the pool, Splash Island Water Park off Reduit Beach is a combination of both. Instead of an oversized swimming pool, however, the water park actually floats in the ocean right next to a pristine reef. Swing on the monkey bars, scale the climbing wall, or jump on the trampoline—all while splashing and cooling off in the cobalt Caribbean Sea. As the first floating, open ocean waterpark found anywhere in the Caribbean, Splash Island Waterpark is redefining the concept of fun on the water. Children will love playing water volleyball or taking multiple runs on the slide, and adults will love the sweeping views looking back towards St. Lucia’s Mountains. Onshore, Rodney Bay Village is just a short stroll away full of dining, shopping, and nightlife, and whether you’re just looking for a one-hour dip or a full day of splashing in the sun, the Splash Island Water Park is a big Caribbean, inflatable, non-stop adventure. 

Srah Srang is a baray, or reservoir, that is located south of the East Baray and east of Banteay Kde. Srah Srang was created by excavation in the mid-900s and, while there are several theories, it’s not clear whether the significance of this reservoir was religious, agricultural or a little bit of both. However, Srah Srang is best known as an ideal location for viewing the sunrise.

At present Srah Srang measures almost 2,300 feet (700 meters) by almost 1,200 feet (350 meters) and is still partially flooded. A basement was found in the middle of it, which suggests that there may have been a temple on an artificial island at some point in the past. The landing-stage is located opposite the entrance to Banteay Kdei and is bordered by naga balustrades, ending with the head of a serpent mounted by a garuda with unfurled wings; guardian lions watch over the steps that lead down to the water. 

One of the largest and oldest monumental statues in the world, the 66-foot-tall (20-meter-tall) Sphinx of Giza is an iconic symbol of Ancient Egypt. This sculpture, dating back to the reign of Khafre, is still the subject of debate over its meaning, age, and original builder, but with the head of a human and the body of a lion, the Sphinx is said to symbolize strength, power, and wisdom. The mystery surrounding its long-forgotten purpose is almost as intriguing as its appearance.

A cluster of traditional houses and cobblestone lanes nestled in the foothills of the Psiloritis mountains, there’s no denying Spili’s photogenic appeal and the tranquil mountain village has long made a popular addition to tour itineraries. Small enough to explore on foot, Spili’s top landmark is its main square, where a grand Venetian fountain takes center stage, featuring 25 lionheads spouting fresh water sourced from the nearby Mt Ida, Crete’s highest mountain.

Once you’ve explored Spili’s three historic churches and shopped for souvenirs at its many small handicraft and artisan shops, be sure to explore the surrounding countryside, renowned for its tranquil olive gloves, lush greenery and colorful fields of wildflowers that bloom in the spring and summer months.

The ruins of Slovakia’s Spis Castle form one of the largest castle sites in central Europe. Built in the 12th century on the site of an earlier castle, the Spis Castle once stood tall above the town of Spisske Podhradie and the village of Zehra. It was completely rebuilt in the 15th century, but burned down in 1780. In the second half of the 20th century, the castle was partially reconstructed and visitors can now explore the castle’s kitchen, bedroom, washroom, armory, chapel and torture room. Also on display are archaeological findings from the Stone Age through Middle Ages, including some Roman coins. The castle’s tower is well worth a climb for the panoramic view and photo opportunities.

If you are visiting during the summer months, be sure to check out the castle’s schedule of activities as it sometimes hosts medieval festivals or night tours in the summer.

Established in the 1860s, Old Spitalfields Market is a historic market that is still bustling today. The covered marketplace is full of stalls offering a mix of chain restaurants and local street food as well as unique, locally designed goods, imported wares, vintage clothes, handmade jewelry, and all manner of quirky items.

The Victorian covered market—which has undergone extensive renovations and is now surrounded by trendy, upscale brick-and-mortar shops—is a lively shopping and dining venue. Its more than 70 stalls, shops, and restaurants include regular and rotating vendors selling everything from hand-thrown ceramics to leather goods, bespoke prescription glasses, and vintage fashion. 

Old Spitalfields Market and the surrounding areas have quite a storied past, and are included on a number of informative walking and culinary tours.

Old Spitalfields Market, located in East London, is easily reachable by bus or tube. Several bus routes end at Spitalfields Market on Brushfield Street; the nearest Underground station is Liverpool Street, which is served by the Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines.

The market stalls are open daily with varying hours and a range of weekly and monthly themed days and events. Check the website and individual shops for current information.

The culinary options at Old Spitalfields Market are vast, making it a dining destination in its own right. The options are endless—high-street chains like Wagamama, cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices, Japanese sushi bowls, dumplings, burgers, falafel, high-end cheese and wine, expertly pulled espresso—and the variety showcases East London’s colorful cultural mix and gourmet foodie scene.

Spittal Pond Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Bermuda and an important one. It covers 59 acres and over 500 species of birds, including waterfowl, make Spittal Pond Nature Reserve their home at some point during the year. Though January is the best time to visit for avid bird watchers, the winter and spring months find many different types of species spending time in the reserve.

Spittal Pond Nature Reserve has a series of trails which visitors can walk along to soak in the scenery of the nature reserve and from which to do bird watching. Within Spittal Pond Nature Reserve is a wetland which is home to mangrove forests and grassland. It is part of the Ramsar Committee, which is an organization dedicated to protecting, conserving and sustaining the world’s wetlands. 

An outstanding feat of engineering, the Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park were the ingenious early–20th-century solution to climbing or descending the impossibly steep 4.5-percent grade to cross Kicking Horse Pass by rail. Watch long freight trains cross themselves as they travel the tunnels in different directions at the same time.

It may take some patience, but you’ll be rewarded by the fascinating sight of freight trains (and the occasional passenger train) carving a figure eight through the mountains. It appears as though three trains are on the rails as parts of the train enter and exit the tunnels, giving the illusion they are moving separately.

See this fascinating example of brilliant railway engineering from either of two viewpoints—an upper and a lower—on a Banff National Park group day tour from Banff or Calgary, or as part of a self-driven tour.

The Lower Spiral Tunnel viewpoint is located on the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1), 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometers) east of Field, British Columbia and 52 miles (84 kilometers) west of Banff, Alberta. There is also a pull-off viewpoint (of the Upper Spiral) on Yoho Valley Road, on the way to Takakkaw Falls from Field.

The lower tunnel viewpoint is open from mid-May until mid-October; the upper viewpoint (and access via Yoho Valley Road) is open from mid-June to mid-October. During the warmer months, trains run fairly frequently—up to every 15 minutes on some days—although they don’t follow a schedule.

After the first rail attempt over Kicking Horse Pass ended in derailment and the tragic deaths of three railway workers in 1884, Canadian Pacific Railway devised the Big Hill solution. A series of switches allowed runaway trains a safe place to divert onto spur lines, not descending the grade until the train was under control. The introduction of the Spiral Tunnels in 1909 brought the grade to a much safer and more manageable 2 percent.

Synonymous with its namesake market, Spitalfields is one of the liveliest districts of London’s East End, tucked in-between hip Shoreditch to the north and historic Whitechapel to the south. The best way to explore the area is on foot and the obvious starting point for a walking tour is Spitalfields Market, one of London’s oldest and most famous markets, which takes over Horner Square each day from 10am to 5pm.

Additional highlights of a walking tour include Brick Lane, London’s ‘curry mile’; the lesser-known Petticoat Lane Market; and the striking Victorian architecture of Commercial Street. Spitalfields is also often visited on food tasting tours of East London, street art tours, and Jack the Ripper tours.

Climbing from Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church, the Spanish Steps is one of Rome’s most recognized landmarks, immortalized in countless postcards and films. Built between 1723 and 1725, the 138-step staircase recently underwent a meticulous cleaning, restoring the marble landmark to its former glory.

The monumental Spanish Steps, the widest staircase in Europe, was designed by architect Francesco de Sanctis and counts among the Eternal City's most iconic tourist sites, along with such highlights as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Roman Forum. The steps are also a lively meeting places for locals, who gather at the bars and cafés around Bernini's famous Fontana della Barcaccia in the square below.

Rome tours by Segway, Vespa, or hop-on hop-off bus are a great way to see the Spanish Steps along with other famous attractions like the Colosseum (often with skip-the-line access) and Pantheon in a single day, or opt for a specialized private tour with an expert tour guide to combine a food and wine or pizza tour with your visit. For a unique look at the steps, consider joining a small-group city tour by night when the monument is dramatically lit and the crowds are thinner.

The metro line A runs from the Termini train station to Piazza di Spagna.

The Spanish Steps are crowded most of the day, so you'll have to visit early in the morning or late at night if you want to enjoy them in relative peace. The steps are in direct sunlight almost all day, so can be hot to climb during the midday hours in summer; they are particularly photogenic in the spring, festooned with colorful flowers, and decorated with a towering Christmas tree and fairy lights during the winter holidays.

The Spanish steps were financed by French diplomat Étienne Gueffier and built to link the Trinità dei Monti Church, under the patronage of the king of France at the time, with the Spanish Square below, so-named because it was home to the Spain's embassy and considered Spanish territory in the 17th century.

Just across Tobago’s northern peninsula from Charlotteville, the town of Speyside is a small settlement along the coast of Tyrell Bay. The town’s biggest attraction is the incredible collection of offshore reefs and scuba diving sites, and many of the lodges in town are built around their on-site scuba diving operations. From here, it’s just a few minutes by boat to Little Tobago and Angel Reef, which are famous for the fast currents that attract beautiful corals, mobs of fish and awe-inspiring manta rays. You can also visit Little Tobago by land to spot a variety of seabirds, like brown boobies, Audubon shearwaters and sooty terns. In town, one attraction is the Speyside waterwheel, part of the ruins that remain from a once bustling sugar plantation.

The Squamish Adventure Centre is a one-stop shop for visitors looking to get out and explore the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada with the help of a local guide or experience. It was built collaboratively, giving the various activities equal exposure, whether its guided hikes, rock climbing lessons or mountain bike adventures.

Alongside the visitor information area are multiple businesses that help turn the Squamish Adventure Centre into a meeting place. Quality coffee and delicious baked goods are served up at Caffe Garibaldi, local artwork and Squamish-branded clothing are for sale at the aptly named Squamish Store and a 38-seat theater rotates mountain-themed films. There are also onsite, stand-up paddleboard and bike rentals, as well as a children’s play area. 

Some 3800 hectares of classic Dutch coastal dunes are being restored in this large nature reserve right in the middle of the busy Randstad. The South Kennemerland National Park is composed of chalky dunes, wide beaches, and coastal forests. Remnants of cultural history like farming estates, seaside villages, and bunkers can also be found in the national park. De Zandwaaier, the park's visitor center, has nature displays and a selection of detailed walking and cycling maps. The Duincafé near the visitor’s center serves coffee, rolls, snacks, and Dutch pancakes.

The park offers more than a hundred miles of footpaths, cycling routes, and horse-riding paths. Whether you want to choose your own route or follow a predetermined path, there’s something for you to enjoy through the woods, across the open sand dunes, and along the lakes and beaches. Trails wind through copses of Corsican firs and valleys of low-lying thickets; at the western edge of the National Park lies a massive sand barrier that's 1,000 years old.

The Southern Highlands of New South Wales are a combination of natural sites, including mountains, caves, and waterfalls, and quaint villages filled with historic homes and heritage sites. Visitors to the area can picnic, hike, or bike through Morton National Park or enjoy a leisurely afternoon in the Corbett Gardens of Bowral. Alternatively, visit the many historic manors and mansions that dot the small towns like Berrima, Bundanoon, and Bungendore. Charming cafes and traditional pubs round out the experience. 

The rolling green hills of the Southern Highlands are home to cooler temperatures, with ideal conditions for producing wine. A handful of excellent vineyards are open for tours and tastings. Whether you’re exploring the outdoors — the Fitzroy Falls, Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk, Wombeyan Caves, to name a few — or soaking in the historic ambiance of small, old towns, the Southern Highlands provides a contrast to the bustle of urban life in Sydney.

The Spanish Synagogue in Prague is the newest synagogue in the Jewish Town area. Ironically, it is built on the site of the 12th-century Altschul, which was thought to be the oldest synagogue in the city.

The current building was constructed in 1868. It was designed by Vojtěch Ignátz Ullmann in a neo-Moorish style, which was inspired by the art of the Arabic period of Spanish history – hence the synagogue’s name. The elaborate interior was designed by the architects, Antonín Baum and Bedřich Münzberger, and includes beautiful stained-glass windows and a stucco-covered ceiling of intricate stylized motifs, which also adorn the walls, doors, and gallery balustrades.

The Spanish Synagogue in Prague holds regular services, permanent and temporary exhibitions, classical concerts, and a variety of other programs and events.

Vienna’s storied Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule), established in the 16th century, is the world’s oldest haute école of classical equitation. Experience the Renaissance tradition of classical dressage—on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list—by witnessing the Viennese institution’s morning exercises.

During morning training sessions at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, impeccable and graceful snow-white Lipizzan horses practice intricate figures and jumps accompanied by classical music, with riders dressed in their historic empire-style uniforms and bicorn hats. They go through their paces in the elegant 18th-century Winter Riding School (Winterreitschule), commissioned by Emperor Charles VI. In addition to exercises, the school also holds more formal exhibitions and even gala performances a few times each week in addition to daily guided tours of the Baroque Summer Riding School and the Stallburg, one of Vienna’s most significant Renaissance structures. If you want to see the horses without watching a training session, you can observe them from outside the adjacent Stallburg stables. A stop at the Spanish Riding School is a must during any Vienna city walking tour or hop-on hop-off bus tour; the school is included in the Vienna Flexi Pass and Vienna Pass tickets as well.

The Spanish Riding School is located in the Hofburg, in central Vienna. The closest metro station is Herrengasse on line U3; alternatively you can take tram line 1, 2, D, or 62 and get off at Kartner Ring Oper or Burgring station. Buses 1A (Herrengasse stop), 2A (Michaelerplatz stop), and 3A (Habsburgergasse stop) also stop nearby.

Morning exercises are held daily from 10am to 12pm, except from late June to early August and on days when a gala performance is scheduled.

Maximilian II first imported this prized breed of horse from Spain in 1562, and in 1580 a stud was established at Lipizza (hence “Lipizzan” or “Lipizzaner”), now in Slovenia. Since 1920, the stud located in the village of Piber has been the breeding center for Lipizzan stallions destined for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

In Berlin there are three Soviet War Memorials. One is located in the northern end of the city in the Pankow district, one is in the southern end of the city in Treptow Park, and one is in the center of the city in Tiergarten. The memorial in Tiergarten is probably the most well known due to its central location. It sits in an area surrounded by a wooded park. All three memorials were established to honor Soviet soldiers who were killed in 1945 in Berlin during the final days of World War II. The memorial in Tiergarten is a large curved structure with a statue of a Soviet soldier on top. 

This particular Soviet War Memorial stood in the British sector of Berlin. It was built shortly after the war ended and was supported by the Allied forces. Throughout the time when the city was divided, Soviet honor guards came from the east to the west to stand watch at the memorial. Today the memorial is maintained by the German government, and around 2,000 soldiers are buried here.