parks Archives

One of Lumphini Park's infamous monitor lizards.

Lumphini Park, Bangkok: 2026 visitor guide

Bangkok's concrete sprawl yields to 58 hectares of lawns, lakes, and shaded pathways at Lumphini Park — the city's original public green space. Named after Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, the park attracts early-morning tai chi practitioners, evening joggers navigating 2.5km of paths, and tourists surprised…

Sunset on the Changi Boardwalk in Singapore.

Changi Boardwalk, Singapore: Complete visitor guide

The Changi Boardwalk offers something unusual for modern Singapore — a 2.2km coastal walk that reveals granite boulders, heritage trees, and remnants of kampong life along the Straits of Johor. Sections of elevated decking take you over water on kelong-style stilts, whilst others weave through…

Natural Bridge State Park, Virginia: Ticket prices, hours, parking & visitor guide (2026)

Visit the historic 215-foot limestone arch in Virginia. Get 2026 ticket prices, opening hours, and parking tips for Natural Bridge State Park. Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia is defined by its massive limestone arch. It serves as a geological bridge over Cedar Creek. Visitors…

Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah: Ticket prices, hours & visitor guide (2026)

Plan your 2026 trip to Monument Valley. This guide details updated ticket prices, park hours, and visitor requirements for the area. The first time I drove north on Highway 163 from Arizona towards Utah and Monument Valley appeared on the horizon, I laughed out loud…

Tiergarten, Berlin: Ticket prices, hours & visitor guide (2026)

When I first walked into Berlin's Tiergarten from the Brandenburg Gate, I was struck by how quickly the city noise disappeared. Within three minutes you're surrounded by forest — actual forest, not manicured parkland — and it's easy to forget you're in the centre of…

View of the obelisk on top of One Tree Hill, Auckland.

One Tree Hill, Auckland: Ticket prices, hours & visitor guide

The first time I climbed One Tree Hill in Auckland, New Zealand, as part of the Coast to Coast Walk, I was puzzled by the name. There's no tree at the summit, just an obelisk and a stump. That missing tree tells you a lot…

Cloud Gate (The Bean), Chicago: 2026 visitor guide

Planning to see Cloud Gate, The Bean, in Chicago? This visitor guide offers practical tips and essential information for your 2026 visit to the much-photographed landmark. When I first walked into Millennium Park on a crisp Chicago morning, Cloud Gate caught me completely off guard.…

Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine: Ticket prices, hours & visitor guide (2026)

Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Florida is a protected coastal area consisting of 1,600 acres of beaches, tidal marshes, and ancient dunes. My 2026 guide contains the primary practical information needed for a first visit, including updated opening hours, ticket prices, arrival instructions, accessibility,…

Angel by Deborah Halpern in Birrarung Marr, Melbourne.

Birrarung Marr, Melbourne: My practical guide to the Yarra-side park

Birrarung Marr is an 8-hectare urban park on the north bank of the Yarra River between Federation Square and Melbourne Park. Opened in 2002, it was Melbourne's first significant new inner-city park in over a century. The name comes from the Woiwurrung language of the…

Scarborough Beach in Perth, Western Australia.

Five places I recommend in Perth, Western Australia

I’ve visited Perth in Western Australia numerous times over the years. These five places are amongst the spots I recommend if you want to enjoy the city as much as I have. Kings Park – city views and Botanic Gardens Kings Park, long Perth’s crowning…