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 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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

The Li River has a long history of Cormorant Fishing. Set amongst Karst Mountains, the city of XingPing (39 miles from Guilin & 15.5 miles from Yangshuo), is the perfect setting to see this beautiful and ancient method of fishing.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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

While the Grand Canyon is full of spectacular views, one particular spot has always been a favorite due to the relatively easy access and the ability to separate from all of the action. To access the sunset nook, start at the Grandview Trailhead at the South Rim (a 16 minute drive from the main Visitors Center). From the parking lot you will proceed to hike down the main trailhead. The trail is...

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 ...

Starting at the Fushimi Inari-taisha, the head shrine of the Inari, the hike to the top of Mount Inari is a refreshing yet surprisingly demanding hike within Kyoto, Japan. The Torii gates, thousands upon thousands of them in a row, provide a gorgeous setting for a hike. The gates, which have varying hues of vibrant orange and bright red, line your route as you hike to the peak.Located just sout...

Exploring this classic Five-Storied Pagoda overlooking Fujiyoshida City and Mount Fuji does take some effort due to its distance from major metropolitan areas of Japan. Yet exploring the pagoda is a great day trip from Tokyo. There are a variety of ways to get there, each with different costs, timing, and predictability. Rail (~2 hours):  Starting from Shinjuku station, take the JR Chuo Express...

With a 3 miles stretch of fine, delicate sand along the Gulf of Mexico, Holmes Beach is an ideal setting for a shore hike. As you hike, frequent visits from bottlenose dolphins and manatees 20-30 yards offshore along with Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets lining the shoreline is commonplace. While the beach can get crowded during the day, the amount of people is much less than many of the surr...

The northwestern-most point of the San Juan Islands, Stuart Island, is arguably the most gorgeous island to circumnavigate. Unfortunately, as Stuart Island is 16 miles away from the closest ferry port, there is no simple way to get there in one day. A couple of options to get there include:1) Once at Friday Harbor find a transfer to Roche Harbor (or if you are taking your car on the ferry to Fr...

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...