Michael GabbertExplorer

Snoqualmie Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Washington. The waterfall is almost 270 feet tall and ranges in width all the way up to 150 feet when the water is really running. On sunny, warm days, it can be a little overrun with tourists. Figure out where you want to get your photo from and be patient. Folks tend to be pretty friendly and stay out of the way once it's your turn. D...

As the sun sets over Queen Anne Hill, there are few better places to be in Seattle than Lake Union. Sitting just 2 miles from downtown Seattle, the Lake is a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. No matter the season, catching a sunset and dusk on the lake is absolutely stunning. Unless you live in Seattle and own a kayak, chances are you’ll need to rent. Luckily there are two co...

The Seal woman statue in the village of Mikladalur is the perfect stop after your hike to Kalsoy Lighthouse. The likely reason you would take the ferry and trek all the way to Kalsoy would be to hike and revel in the amazement of the lighthouse. However, don’t overlook the seal woman statue. A mere 8 minute drive from the Trøllanes parking area for the lighthouse, the town of Mikladalur is ano...

An hour outside of downtown Vancouver lies the beautiful 150,000 acre Provincial Park of Golden Ears. The park has a myriad of hikes and adventures all with varying degrees of difficulty. The Spirea Nature Trail likely clocks in as one easiest amongst the dozens within the park. However, don’t let the level of difficulty throw you off. This short trail packs a punch.  Once you reach the park en...

The terraced fields of Longji offer some of the most spectacular scenery in China. Located 62 miles north of Guilin, the terraces take about 2.5 hrs to get to by car from the Guilin airport. The drive twists through some beautiful scenery itself before reaching the village of Ping’an.The rice terraces at Longji, also known as Dragon’s Backbone, date back over 500 years ago. The village itself f...

This adventure starts in the village of Yangdi. Located 45 miles from Guilin, the closest metropolitan city, Yangdi sits at the base of karsts on the west side of the Li River. The village itself is small but is bustling with activity from the the local merchants and dozens upon dozens of bamboo raft operators. To get to Yangdi you can either hire a driver or take buses from Guilin or Yangshuo....

A street so small and non-descript that unless you plan to visit it or stumble onto it, is something that could be easily missed. A quirky street in the heart of Paris, Rue Crémieux is a tiny yet enormously colorful street and a great place to explore for photographersThe street, which is pedestrian only, is located 3 blocks northwest of Gare de Lyon - one of the major train stations in Paris. ...

The Jiankou section of the wall is known as the ‘Wild’ section due to its complete lack of restoration since its construction in the 1300s. This fact alone makes this area of the wall fascinating. Located 45 miles outside of Beijing (1.5 -2 hrs driving), getting to this area of the wall can be accomplished via 2 separate routes.The first is to park at a nearby village (Xizhazi- 40°27'16.44"N 11...

For a landscape with panoramic dramatic views, there might be none better than that of the Fairy Maiden Peak. The launching point for this hike will be out of the town of Xingping.To get to Xingping, you have a couple options via highways and main roads, as its 39 miles from Guilin & 15.5 miles from Yangshuo. However, the best route is to take a bamboo raft down the Li River. Starting at th...

Located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong, the Tian Tan Buddha is the central figure of the Po Lin Monastery and the major center of Buddhism in Hong Kong. Despite being a major tour attraction and inherently quite busy, the trek of the ‘Big Buddha’ is one to experience.The easiest way to get to the right spot is by subway. Take the MRT subway to the Tung Chung stop. At this point you have 3 option...

Stepping into the bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Japan is a surreal moment. Thousands upon thousands of bamboo trees line a trail which cuts right through the center of the forest. With 30 yards of bamboo on either side of you, the bamboo seems to engulf the sound, light, and your surroundings - transporting you to a place a serenity and an almost zen-like state as you explore it. Located in Aras...

Mylingur, a mountain located on the northern tip of Streymoy within the Faroe Islands, is a hard place to reach and a tricky trail to find, but within a land of so many epic locations, this could go down as one of the best in the Faroe Islands.  There are technically two starting points to get to Mylingur since the trail to it breaks off from the popular Saksun/Tjørnuvík hiking trail. That sai...

Set within the Mount Baker hiking wonderland, the Fire & Ice Trail may be the easiest and most family friendly hike set within the park. About ½ mile beyond the Heather Meadows Ski Area and about a mile before Artists Point, you’ll encounter the sign for the Austin Pass Picnic Area. It’s a rather larger turnoff with a sizable parking lot just prior to a number of switchbacks, so it’s pretty...

Located just outside the town of Glacier, WA and 40 minutes prior to Mount Baker Ski area, sits the Horseshoe Bend Trail. A simple and straightforward 6 mile out and back route. To get here, take Hwy 542 towards the direction of Mount Baker. About 4 miles after you pass through the town of Glacier and 1 mile after you pass the Chair 9 restaurant, you’ll cross over the North Fork Nooksack River....

Maverick's beach is most well-known for the Maverick surf competition and the gnarly waves which surface here in the winter months. For the rest of the year, the beach is still a site to see. With huge waves crashing ¼ mile off shore and bluffs towering 100 feet above you, it’s a picturesque place to take in the sunset.To get here, you’ll park at the Tide Pools Parking Lot. The parking lot can ...

A secret spot of Chinese photographers for years, Cuipingshan Hill within Yangshuo, China is a view unrivaled by many others in the world. The hill is a relatively easy hike but is nearly impossible to find. The reason for its difficult nature is that the name and location aren’t on any maps and there isnt much info on the internet. To get there, you’ll likely need to ask local villagers and fa...

With less than 500 feet of total elevation and 4.4 miles of round trip hiking, the Barclay Lake trail is a perfect hike for beginners, families, or those looking for a quick morning or afternoon jaunt. Yet dont let the simplicity of the hike fool you. The end result of the hike is nothing short of amazing. At 6,129 ft in elevation (2444 ft in prominence), Baring Mountain is an awe-inspiring, su...

At the northwestern-most point of Oregon sits Fort Stevens State Park. Located 3 ½ hrs from Seattle and 2 hrs from Portland, the park sits closest to the city of Astoria. The park itself has over 4300 acres to explore, with day use and camping open year round. However, the most well-known and most visited section of the park resides on its southern shore. It is on the southern shore where the ...

The 2nd most visited section of the Great Wall of China, Mutianyu is a beautifully restored and a relatively accessible spot of the wall. Located 43 miles from Beijing, it can take between 1 ½ to 2 hours to drive to the entrance. Note that you’ll have to park slightly away from the actual entrance and take a bus up to the gate once parked. Be prepared as the area surrounding the entrance of the...

An iconic view within Singapore anchored by the infamous Merlion statue, the park is not to be missed when visiting. That opinion, however, is shared by basically everyone who visits this small country between the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. At basically any point in the day, this tiny park is packed with people….except sunrise.With an eastward facing view over the water of Marina Bay and...

The Supertree Grove is a free park located in the center of the Gardens By the Bay. Comprised of 12 total trees, each of which stand 80 to 165 feet tall, this grove is a must see in Singapore.To get here, take the MRT subway to the 'Bayfront' station. You'll head north towards the Marina Bay Sands hotel and then cross a bridge over to the gardens. In total its a 10-15 minute walk from the stat...

The first part of the trail involves a series of switchbacks through gorgeous forests of Sitka spruce. About a half mile in, you will come to the first bowl/overlook, which will provide a taste of the view to come. Another 1.25 miles from here you will begin to clear the forested area onto the peaks of Harbor Mountain. At this point, you will have excellent views of Mt. Edgecumbe and Sitka Soun...

If driving the Garden Route on South Africa’s southern coast, the city of Knysna is a can’t miss. While there is plenty to do in the city itself, sixteen miles outside of the city sits a perfectly situated hilltop - one ideal for paragliding. At an elevation of a little less than 500 feet and working primarily off of thermals, ‘Cloud Nine’ hilltop is great whether you’re an expert or a first-ti...

A strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island, Deception Pass and the bridges that span it are a fascinating day trip from Seattle. Located 82 miles from Seattle, a 90 minute drive will get you to the Deception Pass State Park. Once here, there are a myriad of activities to do - explore Pass Island (the tiny island between the two bridges which span the pass), visit Lighthouse Point, o...