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Christmas Markets in Austria

The Best European Christmas Markets

Daphne / January 27, 2024

Discover the magic of Europe’s best Christmas markets, where twinkling lights, festive decorations, traditional treats, and charming winter villages create an unforgettable holiday experience. Explore the most enchanting destinations for festive shopping, seasonal food, and the true spirit of Christmas.

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@travelswithdaphne

Tianmen Mountain (meaning Heaven’s Gate) is a famo

Tianmen Mountain (meaning Heaven’s Gate) is a famous landmark and spectacle of Zhangjiajie in China. It is home to the large natural cut-out in the mountain, known as Heaven’s Gate), the 999 steps leading up to it, the 99 road bends that curve up the entire mountain, and the Tianmen cable car, which is one of the longest in the world at 4.8 miles. It normally takes you from the Town center of Zhangjiajie all the way up to the top of the mountain with an elevation change of about 4190 feet.
Unfortunately, the cable car is currently undergoing some renovations, so it was closed when we went. Instead, you can take route C, which is the only route currently open. It takes you via a shorter cable way to the base of the 999 steps that lead up to heavens gate.
MY TIPS FOR VISITING:
1. There is a lot to see! Give yourself enough time on this mountain to visit various areas on the very top.
2. Take the 999 steps or the interior escalators up to the top of the mountain.
3. From there, we headed to the left towards the main cable car station (which is currently closed), and onward through the tunnel to Yunmeng Fairy Peak.
4. Taking the views from here, and then take the chairlift to Tianmen Mountain Village & Temple.
5. Make sure to check out the various levels of the temples, as they get more and more beautiful with each set of steps you take.
6. Follow the east path back around to the top of the escalators, along the hanging cliffside pathways. Insane views!
7. Take the 12 escalators back down to the base of heavens gate, and then the shorter cable car down from there.
8. There is a nightly show at the base of the mountain, called Fox fairies’s romance that starts after dark. We didn’t go, but our friend did and said it was entertaining in the mountain backdrop was beautiful.

The initial shorter cableway that you take as part of route C, from the base of the mountain up to the base of the 999 steps has gorgeous views.

Views from the cableway over Tongtian Avenue, which has a whopping 99 bends in it!

Be prepared to ride quite a few escalators! If you don’t want to climb the 999 steps, you can take the escalators instead. There are a total of 12 elevators t

We visited the incredible location in China that i

Would you jump?!?! This bungee off of the Glass Ca

Would you jump?!?! This bungee off of the Glass Canyon Bridge in Zhangjiajie is the second longest bungee in the world at 850+ feet. 😳🫣 The song you are listening to is exactly what was going through my head when I saw this incredibly brave (crazy?) individual fly off the platform, and bounce 850 feet later 😅. Only to drop and bounce again…. and again… And it only costs CNY 2,998 (approx $450USD) to have your heart stop for that moment in time. 😂 $150 (discounted price) if you go for a second time in the same day! 😂🤣 China, you are very entertaining!! ❤️
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#zhangjiajie #zhangjiajieglassbridge #zhangjiajiebungee #bungeejumping #bungeejump

Making a sugar animal at one of the street food s

Making a sugar animal at one of the street food stalls in Beijing!
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#chinatravels #chinatrip #beijing #sugaranimals #chinastreetfood

We had an amazing day visiting one of the new 7 Wo

We had an amazing day visiting one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Here are my tips for a great experience when visiting the Great Wall of China:I
1. We chose to visit the Mutianyu section, because it is much less crowded than the Badaling section that is closer to Beijing. And it was worth the one hour 20 minute drive, without a doubt.
2. Get there as early as possible! It opens at 7:30 AM and we left Beijing shortly before 6 AM, which actually enabled us to grab a hot coffee and pastry at the base of the Great Wall to start off our morning
3. Take the chair lift first. When we arrived, there were zero crowds. We walked right on. Walk from Tower 6 to Tower 1 for no crowds, stunning views, and enjoy taking in the sun rising over the wall at a relaxed pace. The round-trip walk is less than a mile, (but there are some sections with incredibly steep and narrow steps.)
4. Take the toboggan down from Tower 6. If you head down at around 9:30 AM, there were again zero lines, and the ride is actually very fun!
5. If you have some more time to spend at the wall, next take the cable car up to tower 14. By the time we got there, at around 10 AM there were already quite a few people up on the wall. But we did not have to wait for the cable car.
6. The further you walk away from Tower 14, the less crowded it will be. If you’re able to get up to Tower 20, you can enjoy some more stunning views of the wall from an elevated point. You can walk back to 14 and take the cable car back down.
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#mutianyu #mutianyugreatwall #greatwallofchina #beijingtravel #chinatravel

We rented exoskeletal robotic legs to see what it

We rented exoskeletal robotic legs to see what it would feel like with them, to climb the Great Wall of China.
• You can rent them at Mutianyu, at the base of the cable car from GoGo. They are 100¥ (approximately $14USD) for three hours.
• Similar to an e-bike, once you start moving, the mechanism bolsters your own energy output.
• There are five power levels, and level five definitely helps you climb the stairs.
• They were definitely not comfortable going down the stairs though, as the back contraption that sits on your lower back presses downward when you descend.
but definitely fun to try them out!
• Not all dance move experiences will be comparable to that displayed on the video. 🤣

#roboticlegs #exoskeleton #mutianyu #greatwallofchina #chinatravel

My top tips for how to pack light: • Don’t stress

My top tips for how to pack light:

• Don’t stress about it! – Most places you will travel to will have someplace where you can pick up any forgotten items.
• Be thoughtful — Overpacking is a real thing. Think about your outfits in advance— about what pieces you will actually wear on specific days of your trip and eliminate items you don’t need.
• Pack versatile pieces that can be switched around and matched in different ways with other pieces.
• Wear your thickest items on the plane so that you don’t need to try to fit them in your carry-on. I always wear my thickest pants and biggest shoes, wrap my heavy cardigan around my waist and wear my thickest jacket.
• Bring a roomy personal item on the plane with you like a tote, (I love Aloha bags!), or that you can fit in your carry-on and use it to bring back gifts or goodies that you buy on your trip
• I don’t roll my clothes or use packing cubes (although some people love them), but rather lay my clothes flat and utilize in between spaces for smaller items like socks, undies, adapters, batteries, meds, etc. It’s always seemed to work for me!
• Check the weather forecast before you leave. Make sure you’re taking clothes that work with the climate, so that there are no items in your suitcase that will be left unused and wasting space.

#packingguide #howtopack #packingtips #packinghacks #chinatrip

There is always a new season around every corner.

There is always a new season around every corner. And this one is particularly beautiful! Here in North Carolina, visiting family and about to tour a whole bunch of colleges. It’s surprisingly warm still for autumn, and I’m loving every minute with this monkey….
#autumnishere #turnturnturn #seasonsoflife #pumpkinpicking #momsontrip

Just remembering to breathe. >>>>> . . . #sensei

Just remembering to breathe.
>>>>>
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#sensei #senseilanai #lanai #lanaihawaii #lanaiisland

As far as I’m concerned, life isn’t worth living i

As far as I’m concerned, life isn’t worth living if you’re not laughing. Happy NINE years together, baby! Thank you for all the laughter, love, and incredible adventures. And thank you for going along with all the things that pop in my brain, and for always making them extra fun! ❤️ you, @ciscokid_5150 !

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Home
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