Costa Rica
Peaceful, calm and 100% democratic, that'll be Costa Rica. Then start talking about national parks, reserves and biospheres, sprinkled with generous helpings of Private Reserved and National Monuments and you'd think Ticos had a monopoly on nature. And they did until the rest of the sub-continent started playing catch-up. What makes the difference in Costa Rica is the sheer variety of what is on offer. Quetzales here, nesting turtles there, big cats at all points of the compass. Talk about the attractions of Costa Rica, naturally nature comes first, with about 70 great parks featuring all kinds of wild things. Pick your park according to desired sights and time available. Another major attraction is Arenal Volcano, climbing is forbidden, but the live lava views can be spectacular and the base area is a fascinating mess of magma caves. The dry season offers your best chance of this rare sight. The nearest town is La Fortuna and the best route to the base is via a jungle path from Tabacon Resort - smokin'!
p.s. there are hot springs and cold drinks not far away for lazy night perusal. Rincon de la Vieja, a satanically misshapen volcanic landscape of craters and pools and bubbling mud. Good for hiking, riding and simmering in hot springs. San José, Costa Rica's capital, is unavoidable but of little interest. It has a couple of OK museums though not of the zoological/botanical sort. Beaches are mostly near to national parks so beach/wildlife combos are possible. The Pacific side offers excellent beaches at Manuel Antonio. Golfito, near Corcovado Park is an good base for exploring less developed paradise beaches to the south, such as Playa Zancudo and Pavones. Further north Jaco is way overdeveloped as a resort and Puntarenas is unpleasantly polluted.
In the NW Peninsula de Nicoya is hard to reach but has some superb beaches with laid back village support, including Playa del Coco, Playa Samara and Montezuma. The Caribbean side best offer is Cahuita in the SE, famous for its Creole culture, coral reef and fine sandy beaches, with a wildlife park nearby.
In fact, it's easy to get blase about the place, and frustration mounts when the small things crawl, fly and slither don't greet you with a welcome card - just because they're there doesn't mean you see them. There is no substitute for good old-fashioned patience. Or is there? World-class Whitewater rafting, surfing and fishing, erupting volcanoes and steaming mud pools, hot-air ballooning, walking, hiking, canoeing or just lazing about. Others may do these things, but they won't find them all packed into a bundle as small as Costa Rica.
North America Travel Guide
Round Top : Texas
Round Top is a town located in Fayette County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 77. Geography Round Top is located at 30°3'54" North, 96°41'48" West (30.065060, -96.696614)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²).
Montrose : Minnesota
Montrose is a city located in Wright County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,143. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²). 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.03% is
Madison : Illinois
Madison is a city located in Madison County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,545. Geography Madison is located at 38°41'1" North, 90°9'4" West (38.683700, -90.151047)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.9 km² (7.3 mi²). 18.2 km²
Alabama : Fairhope Events
Alabama : Fairhope Events Jubilee! The Art of Food on the Eastern Shore Mar 4-28, 2005 53rd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival of Fairhope Mar 18-20, 2005 33rd Outdoor Art Show Mar 18-20, 2005 Spring Fever Chase Mar 19, 2005 Fairhope, 13th Annual Model Train Show Mar 19-20, 2005 Baldwin Pops Concert Apr 24, 2005 Baldwin Pops Concert Jun 5, 2005 City of Fairhope July
Bloomfield : Iowa
Bloomfield is a city located in Davis County, Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,601. It is the county seat of Davis County6. Geography Bloomfield is located at 40°45'4" North, 92°25'1" West (40.751122, -92.417007)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total
Nielsville : Minnesota
Nielsville is a city located in Polk County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 91. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²). 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is land and none of
Sunderland : Vermont
Sunderland is a town located in Bennington County, Vermont. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 850. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 118.2 km² (45.7 mi²). 117.6 km² (45.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km²
Bremerton : Washington
Bremerton is a city located in Kitsap County, Washington, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 37,259. It is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap. Bremerton is connected to downtown Seattle by a 50-minute ferry ride,
Imogene : Iowa
Imogene is a city located in Fremont County, Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 66. Geography Imogene is located at 40°52'43" North, 95°25'40" West (40.878715, -95.427688)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²). 0.5 km²
Little Sioux : Iowa
Little Sioux is a city located in Harrison County, Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 217. Geography Little Sioux is located at 41°48'33" North, 96°1'21" West (41.809169, -96.022556)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²).
Hogansville : Georgia
Hogansville is a city located in Troup County, Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,774. Geography Hogansville is located at 33°10'12" North, 84°54'33" West (33.170022, -84.909146)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.3 km² (6.7 mi²). 17.2 km²
Cleveland : Oklahoma
Cleveland is a city located in Pawnee County, Oklahoma. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,282. Geography Cleveland is located at 36°18'23" North, 96°27'53" West (36.306254, -96.464630)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²). 6.7 km²
Racine : Minnesota
Racine is a city located in Mower County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 355. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²). 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is land and none of
Lathrop : Missouri
Lathrop is a city located in Clinton County, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,092. Geography Lathrop is located at 39°32'57" North, 94°19'47" West (39.549153, -94.329747)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.6 km²
Blue Diamond : Nevada
Blue Diamond is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 282. Geography Blue Diamond is located at 36°2'50" North, 115°24'11" West (36.047090, -115.403166)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 19.1 km² (7.4
Centerville : Utah
Centerville is a city located in Davis County, Utah. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,585 and by 2003 was estimated at 14,748. Geography Centerville is located at 40°55'37" North, 111°52'48" West (40.926824, -111.880086)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
Forestburgh : New York
Forestburg (or Forestburgh) is a town located in Sullivan County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 833. The Town of Forestburg is in the south-central part of the county. History The town was formed from parts of the Towns of Mamakating and Thompson in 1837. Geography Part
Burlington : Colorado
Burlington is a city located in Kit Carson County, Colorado. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 3,678. It is the county seat of Kit Carson County6. Geography of Burlington Burlington is located at 39°18'15" North, 102°16'7" West (39.304293, -102.268683)1. According to the United States Census Bureau,
Johnson City : Kansas
Johnson City is a city located in Stanton County, Kansas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,528. Geography Johnson City is located at 37°34'11" North, 101°45'10" West (37.569623, -101.752901)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 km² (1.1 mi²).
Commerce : Oklahoma
Commerce is a city located in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. It is most famous as the hometown of the baseball star, Mickey Mantle, often called the "Kid from Commerce." On April 6, 1934, Bonnie and Clyde shot a policeman dead in this town. Geography Commerce is located at 36°56'1" North, 94°52'17" West (36.933529, -94.871371)1. According
Corinth : New York
Corinth is a town located in Saratoga County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 5,985. The town is named after a section in the Bible. The Town of Corinth contains a village with the name Corinth. The town is on the northeast border
Hopkinton : New York
Hopkinton is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York in the USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,020. The name is derived from early settlers with the name Hopkins. The Town of Hopkinton is on the county's eastern border. History The town was organized
Riverdale : Michigan
Seville Township is a township located in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 2,375. Communities Elwell is an unincorporated community in the township at 43° 23? 15? N 84° 44? 45? W. The FIPS place code is 25800. Riverdale
Barker : New York
Barker is a town located in Broome County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,738. The town is named after John Barker, an early settler. The Town of Barker was formed in 1831 and is on the eastern border of the county. Geography The east
Bailey : North Carolina
Bailey is a town located in Nash County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 670. Geography Bailey is located at 35°46'49" North, 78°6'56" West (35.780279, -78.115622)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²). 1.8
