10 record-setting natural wonders in the United States

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Maybe we've been cooped up too much this winter, but now more than ever, the natural wonders of our world are beckoning to us from behind gray computer monitors, buzzing cell phones and the million red brake lights ahead of us on the long commute home. <br /> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph2"> We yearn to leave the laundry, the dishes and the bills behind and swap them out for something bigger, deeper and taller than we could ever be; something that will, at once, make us feel insignificant and perfectly in place.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3"> Pack your bags and wear comfortable shoes, because we've compiled a list of nature's record setters in the United States that will make for great vacation memories.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph5"> <strong>Deepest lake in the U.S.</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph5"> <strong> </strong><img alt="<strong>Deepest lake in the U.S.:</strong> Crater Lake, Oregon. The dazzling body of water is nearly 2,000 feet deep." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto001" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225214312-crater-lake-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="margin: 0 auto;" width="640" /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph5"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph6"> Looking to be gobsmacked by nature? Visit Crater Lake in south-central Oregon. Created by the eruption and ultimate collapse of Mount Mazama more than 7,000 years ago, water filled the caldera, or ring-like indentation left after the explosion, creating the deepest lake (592 meters; 1,943 feet) in the United States.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph7"> In winter, snowshoeing expeditions give a peek into the wilds of this natural wonder. But make sure to visit this beauty in the summertime, too, when more of the Crater Lake National Park is accessible. A two-hour trolley tour circles the rim of the lake and allows visitors four scheduled stops. Hop aboard a summer lake cruise, weather permitting, and catch a glimpse of the famed "Old Man of the Lake," a large tree stump that has been floating vertically in the cold water for nearly a century. Bicyclists rave about the 33-mile loop around the rim of Crater Lake, but be warned that the route features steep climbs and brilliant views in equal portion.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph8"> Crater Lake Lodge first opened its doors in 1915 and is a rustic, sweeping homage to the 1920s, complete with a Great Hall and oversized fireplace. It is open seasonally, usually May to October.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph10"> <strong>Largest living tree in the world</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph10"> <strong><img alt="<strong>Largest living tree: </strong>General Sherman, Sequoia National Park, California. The sequoia is the world's largest living tree measured by the volume of its enormous trunk." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto002" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225213029-general-sherman-sequoia-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph11"> You're going to need a very long set of arms to hug the largest living tree in the world. Dubbed General Sherman after the Civil War general, this behemoth lives in the north end of Giant Forrest in Sequoia National Park, California, and towers about 84 meters (275 feet) high. At its base, this giant is about 31 meters (103 feet) around, roughly equal to fourteen and a half Shaquille O'Neals lying head-to-foot around the base of the tree.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph12"> Despite its impressive height and width, it is not the tallest or widest tree around. Instead, its distinction as the largest living tree is judged by the volume of its huge trunk -- 52,500 cubic feet .</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13"> Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks lie adjacent to each other in the southern Sierra Nevada and make a wonderful playground, no matter the season. In May, Crystal Cave, a large, naturally-forged underground cave with stream-polished rock formations and large marble rooms, opens to the public. In the winter, book a room at the rustic John Muir Lodge, located just minutes from General Sherman, and take a cross-country ski trip into the snow-draped forests.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14"> <strong>Lowest and hottest spot in the U.S.</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14"> <strong><img alt="<strong>Lowest spot in the U.S.:</strong> Death Valley, California. The valley's lowest point is 282 feet below sea level. Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth with a scorching record high of 134° F (57°C) on July 10, 1913." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto003" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225214903-death-valley-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph15"> If you've had it up to your hairline with ice storms and snow days, plan a getaway to the hottest, lowest place in the United States: Death Valley. It may sound like a depressing destination, but this place boasts some of the most adaptable plant and animal life on the planet.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph16"> Death Valley is 86 meters (282 feet) below sea level and was formed when movement in the earth's crust along a fault line caused the land to sink. From Telescope Peak, the highest mountain in the national park at 11,049 feet, to the Badwater Basin floor is nearly a two-mile drop, twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. The average rainfall for the area is less than 2 inches per year. A record high of 134°F (57°C) was recorded in Death Valley on July 10, 1913.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph17"> The park is open year-round, but guided ranger tours are available only in the cooler months from November to April, and they are a great way to learn more about the geology and history of this fascinating desert. Full Moon festivals, available in the cooler months of the year, give visitors the opportunity to see how this desolate landscape changes at night.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph18"> After a long, hot day of exploring the desert, check into the elegant Inn at Furnace Creek, a well-appointed resort with spa amenities, spring-fed swimming pools, an 18-hole golf course and stone patios with sunset views.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13">  <strong>World's tallest mountain (measured from the ocean floor)</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13"> <strong> </strong><img alt="<strong>Tallest mountain in the world (measured from the ocean floor): </strong>Mauna Kea, Hawaii. At about 33,000 feet, from base to peak, this dormant volcano is taller than Mount Everest." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto004" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225215102-mauna-kea-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph20"> <strong><br /></strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph21"> If stargazing is your passion, you can't get much better than Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano in Hawaii that, when measured from the ocean floor, is taller than Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain by altitude. From its ocean-floor base, Mauna Kea measures more than 10,000 meters (about 33,000 feet) or a little more than six miles.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph22"> Historically, the summit of Mauna Kea has been considered a spiritual place to native Hawaiians and only royalty and tribal chiefs were allowed to visit. Today, the summit is still spiritually relevant for many people, but thousands of visitors make the arduous trip each year to visit observatories perched at the summit. Every night, regardless of weather, the Visitor Information Station at the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy holds a free public stargazing program.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23"> Book a room at the Shipman House Bed and Breakfast and relax in the sunny, privately owned Victorian mansion, complete with more than 20 tropical fruit tree varieties blooming in the garden.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23"> <strong>Highest mountain in North America</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23"> <strong> </strong> </div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23"> <img alt="<strong>Highest mountain in North America: </strong>Mount McKinley, Alaska. The mountain is 20,320 feet high." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto005" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225215350-mt-mckinley-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph24"> <strong>Highest mountain in North America</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph25"> If the rugged, wild terrain of Alaska is what your wanderlusting heart needs, book a trip to Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. This mammoth park -- roughly half the size of Rhode Island -- is home to the highest mountain (as measured from its base) in North America: Mount McKinley. The mountain is 6,194 meters (20,320 feet) high.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph26"> At night, if you camp anytime from August through May, you might glimpse the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. These vivid braids and streaks of light, sometimes red, sometimes green, can brighten the deep dark skies over Denali and take your breath away. Explore slabs of rocks that geologists have begun referring to as the dinosaur dance floors because of the high number of fossilized footprints they've discovered.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph27"> There are no National Park Service accommodations in the park, but you can find stellar digs at Camp Denali and North Face Lodge, two privately owned full-service lodges that feature guided outings and flightseeing tours.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph27"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph28"> <strong>Tallest natural bridge in the U.S.</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph28"> <strong><img alt="<strong>Tallest natural bridge in U.S.:</strong> Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Utah. The bridge is 290 feet tall." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto006" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225215622-rainbow-bridge-national-monument-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph29"> The amazing natural structure at Rainbow Bridge National Monument in Utah is estimated to be more than 200 million years old, and it stands 88 meters (290 feet) tall. Rainbow Bridge is considered to be the highest natural land bridge in the United States, and its name hints at the unique color striations formed from layers of different types of sandstone which became hardened and fused together by wild fluctuations in the climate through the Triassic and Jurassic periods.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph30"> Geologists estimate that several million years ago heavy rains and a rising river gradient swept through the area, cutting wide swaths through the water-soluble sandstone and creating many interesting shapes in the landscape.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph31"> Today, most visitors gawk at the bridge from a viewing platform, but some folks may backpack along the Navajo Mountain trail once they've acquired the appropriate permit from the Navajo Nation.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph32"> Lake Powell, a reservoir of the Colorado River that straddles the border between Utah and Arizona, is relatively nearby and provides access by boat to the famous land bridge. One of the best ways to experience the spectacular landscape is to rent a houseboat and navigate Lake Powell via the more than 2,000 miles of shoreline.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph33"> <strong>The sunniest place in the world</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph33"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph33"> <strong><img alt="<strong>Sunniest place in the U.S.: </strong>Yuma, Arizona. Yuma is the sunniest place in the United States. It also holds the Guinness World Record for sunniest city on Earth." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto007" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225220019-yuma-arizona-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph34"> If you're ready to trade in your parka and mittens for shorts and sunglasses, seek out a place where sunshine beams down 90 percent of the year. Yuma, Arizona, is the nation's sunniest city and the least humid place in the United States, according to the National Climatic Data Center. It's also the sunniest place in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Also, Yuma boasts the least number of days of precipitation in the nation: on average, 16 days per year.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph35"> Several side trips outside of Yuma are worth taking. Bring your mountain bike and head out for an 11-mile trek in the Laguna Mountains area. Thirty miles north of Yuma is a must-see for history buffs: Castle Dome Landing is a ghost town and museum featuring 23 restored and recreated buildings, including a saloon and blacksmith.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph36"> <strong>Northernmost point in the continental U.S.</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph36"> <strong><img alt="<strong>Northernmost point in contiguous U.S.: </strong>Northwest Angle Inlet in Minnesota, near the Ontario border. "The Angle" sits at 49.22 north latitude." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto008" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225220218-northwest-angle-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph37"> If the desert isn't calling your name, and ice fishing sounds alluring, head for an obscure little corner of Minnesota called Northwest Angle Inlet. The locals call the township "the Angle," and at 49.22 north latitude, it is the northernmost point in the contiguous United States. (Point Barrow, Alaska, is the northernmost point in all U.S. territory).</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph38"> The only way to get to "The Angle" is to drive through Canada or boat through Manitoba Bay. The Angle is a fisherman's paradise with plenty of walleye and bass, depending on the time of year you visit. Go on an ice fishing adventure with the Red Fox Ice Fishing Company and try out their heated fishing houses. They also rent private, lakefront cabins complete with a cast iron skillet perfect for frying up your catch. A nine-hole golf course offers a respite from fishing, and in the warmer months, berry picking is the activity of choice.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph39"> By contrast, if you're hoping for warmer climes, try visiting the southernmost city in the continental United States: Key West, Florida. Its laid-back reputation and independent culture woos artists of all stripes, including authors Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, both of whom owned homes in the city.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph40"> <strong>Deepest canyon in North America</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph40"> <strong><img alt="<strong>Deepest canyon in North America: </strong>Hells Canyon in eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and western Idaho. At its deepest, the canyon plunges 2,452 meters (8,043 feet) from the tip of He Devil Peak to the Snake River. " border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto009" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225220822-hells-canyon-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph41"> The Grand Canyon in Arizona may be immense, boasting nearly 277 river miles in length, but for sheer depth, Hells Canyon in eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and western Idaho wins hands-down. At its deepest, the canyon plunges 2,452 meters (8,043 feet) from the tip of He Devil Peak to the Snake River. The deepest part of the Grand Canyon is a mere 1,829 meters (6,000 feet).</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph42"> Hells Canyon was carved with the help of the Snake River which begins in western Wyoming, winds through the Snake River Plains, descends into the rocky Hells Canyon and eventually empties into the Columbia River. Make sure to view the Rush Creek Rapids from the majestic Hat Point lookout, the highest point of Hells Canyon on the Oregon side.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph43"> Follow the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, a 218-mile stretch of winding road that slips through much diverse landscape -- from the snow-tipped Wallowa Mountains to lush valleys. Book a night stay at the quiet, rustic Pine Valley Lodge in Halfway, Oregon.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph44"> <strong>Longest river in the U.S.</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph44"> <strong><img alt="<strong>Longest river in U.S.: </strong>Missouri River. At more than 2,500 miles, the Missouri River is the longest in the United States, followed by the mighty Mississippi at about 2,300 miles." border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto0010" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140225221127-missouri-river-horizontal-gallery.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto;" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph45"> At more than 2,500 miles, the Missouri River is the longest in the United States, beginning in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, winding generally south and east before joining the mighty Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri. "Big Muddy" passes through seven states -- Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming -- and explorers Lewis and Clark nearly followed its entire length before realizing that the waterway stopped short of the Pacific Ocean.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph46"> Three Forks, Montana, where the "Big Muddy" originates, is a city worthy of exploration. Start your stay at the Sacajawea Hotel, a recently renovated historic building, and get your waders ready because Three Forks is fly fishing country. Soak in the beauty of snowcapped mountains and cold, blue waters teeming with trout.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph47"> Go canoeing in the headwaters and watch great blue herons fish near the banks. It's not uncommon to spot a moose lumbering along in the distance. Check out the intricate limestone caverns lined with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites at the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, just 17 miles from Three Forks.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph27">  Source : CNN</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23"> </div> </div>

10 record-setting natural wonders in the United States

Maybe we've been cooped up too much this winter, but now more than ever, the natural wonders of our world are beckoning to us from be...

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Jordan: 10 reasons to visit the Middle East's most easygoing country

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_bxB0MZxKBqGsRZ0oHnP0ehYAPSCSfKgO40aSjGfi_D8JP5mn9794pIMrvxqFxnWHGiAgwmtKflcgQ9Eg-XKfE-gwqM_orXLDaoTRArd4GwPz7UVImJMeegMkWsY6OHREV5UsqlB-01H/s1600/140304200509-jordan-5-horizontal-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_bxB0MZxKBqGsRZ0oHnP0ehYAPSCSfKgO40aSjGfi_D8JP5mn9794pIMrvxqFxnWHGiAgwmtKflcgQ9Eg-XKfE-gwqM_orXLDaoTRArd4GwPz7UVImJMeegMkWsY6OHREV5UsqlB-01H/s1600/140304200509-jordan-5-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <strong>(CNN)</strong> -- You don't often find Jordan splashed across the top of your favorite news site.<br /> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph2"> Big on the grand desert scenery and ancient monuments you'd expect, but absent from any roll call of travel-warning infamy on government websites, this is a nation that confounds traveler perceptions of the Middle East.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph3"> Here's why.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph4"> <br /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph5"> <strong>1. Bedouin culture is at the root of Jordanian hospitality </strong></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A90yBg9ZjyQ5dqyP81ZRTNjt1qTzY14d-kzvzUw-c_OsLu6im_WcLccvBB4uxoxe4SC_rslZL3wklzoddlxPm68H79I5Bb54tvp7Mpw3o2qG0pfLaSHE0UOwoqXdx9QDhYQJ7EFpwUvr/s1600/140304200841-jordan-9-horizontal-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A90yBg9ZjyQ5dqyP81ZRTNjt1qTzY14d-kzvzUw-c_OsLu6im_WcLccvBB4uxoxe4SC_rslZL3wklzoddlxPm68H79I5Bb54tvp7Mpw3o2qG0pfLaSHE0UOwoqXdx9QDhYQJ7EFpwUvr/s1600/140304200841-jordan-9-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph6"> Ahlan wa Sahlan ("hello and welcome") follows you wherever you go.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph7"> For Jordanians, hospitality is part of life, founded in a centuries-old nomadic culture.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph8"> Visitors who set their itineraries in stone risk missing out on all the spontaneous invitations to sit back and drink endless tiny glasses of tea with locals.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph9"> <strong>2. Landscapes are film stars</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph10"> If the scenery gives you déjà vu, that's because you've probably seen it before.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph11"> Jordan is a kingdom of blockbuster countryside that's graced cinema screens countless times.</div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt"> <div class="cnn_strylctcntr cnn_strylccimg300"> <div class="cnn_strylccimg300cntr"> </div> <div> Yep, you saw Wadi Rum featured in "Lawrence of Arabia." You did see it, right?</div> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph12"> Petra's Al-khaznah (The Treasury) monument posed as the home of the Holy Grail in "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph13"> The high-rise cliffs and blush pink sands of Wadi Rum played themselves in "Lawrence of Arabia."</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph14"> At 89,342 square kilometers, Jordan may be relatively small, but its vistas are the stuff of epic silver screen classics.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph15"> MORE: UAE's most outrageous hotel suites</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph16"> <strong>3. It's a regional eco-lodge leader </strong></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCzp3DxEMNc7rWLTENGIzuaBPRgTu56hhzH9Ahr1HEyTxqLGIv7hinjf-dGUv1CNij9rTXZhcvjeKIFGOFyD9usU3do-blDGwbVzHjsUKv_4bey1L9_o1idy8xvsoenJMk8Mjjbf0vL10/s1600/140304200055-jordan-2-horizontal-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCzp3DxEMNc7rWLTENGIzuaBPRgTu56hhzH9Ahr1HEyTxqLGIv7hinjf-dGUv1CNij9rTXZhcvjeKIFGOFyD9usU3do-blDGwbVzHjsUKv_4bey1L9_o1idy8xvsoenJMk8Mjjbf0vL10/s1600/140304200055-jordan-2-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph17"> Sustainable travel has a long road to travel in the Middle East, but Jordan is leading the way.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph18"> The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature operates ten protected areas in the country with eco-lodge accommodation options.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph19"> Dana Biosphere Reserve tumbles down the chasm of the Great Rift Valley with Dana Guest House (<i>Dana village</i><i>, +962 03 227 0497</i>) clinging to a cliff edge from where the sandstone hills of the national park spool out below.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph20"> At Mujib Biosphere Reserve -- the world's lowest altitude national park -- you can sleep at Mujib Chalets (<i>Mujib bridge</i><i>, Dead Sea Highway, +962 079 907 4960</i>) for canyon hiking and the Dead Sea on your doorstep at 416 meters below sea level.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph21"> Jordan's most famous national park is Wadi Rum, where you can spend the night amid the silent desert expanse at a simple Bedouin Beit Shar (goat-hair tent) encampment.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph22"> <strong>4. Levantine flavors in Amman</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph22"> <strong><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGHgYqz6FbfrudfGEKgy09qaXZ_Qkm3fC3I7xunYwneDQkRjSI2Asyli5vj1RULxEY9cpF90paHzyJGgxk9wq4PXFpaUYQOn1XJ2KFq3sAwjt02YAvRKAv6804me50dJn6j_f_N1BKnkZ/s1600/140304200200-jordan-3-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="640" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph23"> Amman is Jordan's capital city, as well as its culinary capital.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph24"> Lunch lines outside Al-Quds on Rainbow Street indicate the city's best falafel.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph25"> You can do coffee with one of Amman's best views at the Wild Jordan Cafe <i>(Othman bin Affan Street, +962 06 463 3542</i>), and try Levant's finest dishes amid the opulence of an old Ottoman mansion at Fakhr El-Din (<i>40 Taha Hussein St.</i><i>,</i><i> +962 06 465 2399</i>).</div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt"> <div class="cnn_strylctcntr cnn_strylccimg300"> <div class="cnn_strylccimg300cntr"> </div> <div> Beit Sitti offers cooking classes in Jordan's culinary capital of Amman.</div> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph26"> Beit Sitti (<i>16 Muhammad Ali al-Saadi St., +962 079 563 3868</i>) run classes in Arabic cooking that teach you pro skills for your next Middle Eastern-themed dinner party.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph27"> <strong>5. Using the car horn for brakes doesn't cut it here</strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSsnaNk-Ve-rddPKQn1Vzwr7S6WqFfxtwoXr8YO0rR5vUXCIRicMvPaXArUn3He3eXh_W0OWxozyouXLrbsdjzQ-ufqC0N1hr99hVoYbkNBTlKmrBFDPwBMbR_0c779wizrtoWW8xHjY6/s1600/140304200657-jordan-8-horizontal-gallery.jpg" /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph28"> Seasoned Middle East travelers will tell you the biggest safety concern in the region is for your hearing.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph29"> The traffic crush -- and cacophony of car horns -- is a constant stress.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph30"> Not in Jordan.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph31"> With a population of only 6.5 million, and plenty of open spaces, Jordanian drivers don't feel the need to thump out a constant tuneless blast of beeps.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph32"> MORE: Saving an endangered species, Arabian style</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph33"> <strong>6. Cultural tours that make a difference</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph34"> In recent years, small local initiatives have begun changing the face of tourism by offering a look into the Jordan beyond the famous ruins.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph35"> The Zikra Initiative operates a tourism-exchange program in which travelers take part in traditional village activities -- cooking, banana-leaf basket making -- for a small fee that gets funneled into micro-loans to help the village community.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph36"> Middle East travel specialist Backpacker Concierge operates a number of cultural immersion tours in Jordan.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph37"> <strong>7. Ruins everywhere</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph37"> <strong><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gJLXIC-fxIBxk-Viv0KBOOo_fOlRGG9lmBvc5q_0HuyD3mToaRNxVclfRGdwhbX7CGMjqylr7r4JaGIcJ4oqspZEVRXpIOErjYyAVt7qlQyw5xtrxDWl-PxOGsa6Zm6W-RsUvh7ac0qq/s1600/140304200956-jordan-10-horizontal-gallery.jpg" /> </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph38"> If you want to see megalithic monuments, Jordan won't let you down.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph39"> Jerash is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman towns in the world.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph40"> A walk along its long Cardo Maximus from the South Theater to the Temple of Artemis offers an evocative slice of the Classical Age.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph41"> The Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Arab Empires stamped their hand prints across the countryside.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph42"> Head north (or east, on the desert castle loop) from the glorious tumble of columns and temples at ancient Umm Qais or Pella, and you'll find the Umayyad caliphs' country retreats of Azraq Fort and the UNESCO-listed Qasr Amr.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph43"> <strong>8. The Abraham Path</strong><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcymovQhAl-uVLl-RttFMAetoG3pW7D_zTnis2wih7UxWoeMD8SdZsBMQYq7H_V9UgEsmW8MNm2NmW4ymkTBZc8JfqQmmUJz7XaNt3rTanH3vHaW-5hDqQUHlm4146Y_Y7lwT_G-fTsWb/s1600/140304200221-jordan-4-horizontal-gallery.jpeg" width="640" /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph44"> Jordan's Ajloun region has a five-day hiking trail that's part of the multi-country Abraham Path.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph45"> The shorter, one-day Ajloun-Orjan village section starts at the Crusader castle of Ajloun, drops in at Mar Elias (said to be the birthplace of the prophet Elijah) and finishes at sleepy Orjan, where homestays are available.</div> <div class="cnn_strylftcntnt"> <div class="cnn_strylctcntr cnn_strylccimg300"> <div class="cnn_strylccimg300cntr"> </div> <div> The winding King's Highway is one of the Middle East's most scenic road trips.</div> </div> </div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph46"> <strong>9. The Middle East's best road trip</strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph47"> Between Madaba and Petra, the King's Highway winds along the ridge edge of the Great Rift Valley.<img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwSiI6DIjSoElbebeqfXgXQNftKLKOh57H-GWsL1ekfd6GGLr_E_jvW9oSiPc-7-VYPTxN4CFHCSTzz5wqfkKuW_yEI02AY9v84Md1_XwC1RvcXvUZNKKQMkMcVLo_8PbthORBcy-W5nx/s1600/140304200338-jordan-6-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="640" /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph48"> It's filled with historic sites and offers some of the country's most startling views.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph49"> Moses saw the Promised Land at Mt. Nebo, Salome's shimmying ended with St. John the Baptist losing his head on Herod's mountain eyrie of Mukawir, and Reynald of Chatillon was defeated by Salah ud-Din at the Crusader castle of Kerak.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph50"> About halfway through the trip, a highway turnoff leads to a road that twists and turns down to the Dead Sea where you can float in waters so mineral rich that you can't sink.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph51"> <strong>10. Petra -- as if we wouldn't mention it </strong></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph52"> You can't mention Jordan without talking about Petra.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph53"> By the time you get here you'll have seen its famous Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) and Ed-Deir (The Monastery) monuments hundreds of times, splashed across tourism posters throughout Jordan.</div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph54"> For a different take on the Nabataean's ancient capital, you can get off the main trail to the site and onto the Bedouin back roads.<img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhNSjCdsB06ZxGBcE1a2-8jhJPcFxGgJa70ZzWKWLTMfvrfc-pXXiG7OXfy3-fGozywksisZ2ZGqqzZ431H_hV_0RD5p3MCCauIxZ2-tEyBvNf8ICeDCR39apxnY4MgtfbQJMVcLZtr3c/s1600/140304200556-jordan-7-horizontal-gallery.jpg" width="640" /></div> <div class="cnn_storypgraphtxt cnn_storypgraph55"> The winding trail up to the cliff ridge of Al-Habees has the best views over the central city ruins.</div> A stone-cut staircase trail snakes up Jabal al-Khubtha for dramatic views of The Treasury from above.<br /> Source ::CNN </div>

Jordan: 10 reasons to visit the Middle East's most easygoing country

(CNN) -- You don't often find Jordan splashed across the top of your favorite news site. Big on the grand desert scenery and anc...

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