Whether you can still recall your mom or dad reading to you aloud from the classic Maurice Sendak-illustrated and written book, Where the Wild Things Are – or you’ve just read it to your grandkids, you already know that this book remains a generational favorite. Why do kids love it so much? Because they identify with shy, misunderstood Max who escapes to an island where…
Named for the so-called laughing gulls which formerly used the island as a nesting site, Laughing Bird Caye is a small (1.8-acre/0.73 ha) island located approximately 11 miles (17 km) off the coast of the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. Today, the island is the epicenter of Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a protected nature reserve that includes the island as well as the surrounding…
If images of camping amid gorgeous landscapes send a thrill down your spine – and if you swear anything cooked outdoors on a grill tastes better than dishes prepared on a stove – perhaps it’s time you took your passion for the great outdoors to a new location where fulfilling your bucket list is a breeze. How about a Belize outdoors adventure? This list gets…
It takes very patient parents to include their youngsters on overseas vacations, but since kids tend to behave best when they’re totally engaged in experiences that delight their curiosity, rewards are plentiful. Further, it’s no secret that kids and candy have had a long-standing relationship, so offer your background on candy-making to pique their interest about the Belize family vacation you’ve been discussing. According to…
Say what you will about the differences of opinion that pervade our days, but there’s common ground when people are asked how they feel about water sports activities. Red Cross statistics verify the fact that 80% of Americans know how to swim, and age presents no barrier to people who enjoy this sport. But for most of us, swimming is just the beginning of our…
It’s easy to understand why questions are being asked about the wisdom of importing animals to zoos after being captured in the wild—especially since opportunities to see wildlife over time were mostly found on pages of National Geographic magazines! New approaches to zoo design benefit wildlife as some of these facilities expand space and create habitats designed to emulating species-specific environments. What’s changed since zoos…
No parrots or pirate hats are required to dive into this gorgeous Belize atoll, though the pirates are no longer around to welcome you! According to “Moon Belize” author Lebawit Lily Girma, one doesn’t need to travel to a large island to enjoy the world’s best diving experience, which is why Glover’s Reef Atoll in Southern Belize has become a popular destination for vacationers. First…
You don’t have to be an adventurer to admit that touring caves is fascinating. These underground chambers make visitors feel as though time has stood still, says Sam Anderson, writing for the UK publication, The Independent. “The appeal of caves is, obviously, primal,” he states, describing the importance of caves to prehistoric people who used these enclaves for everything from ceremonial rituals to art galleries….
The University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology, and the University of Queensland teamed up to conduct a study that got attention from the international mental health community: People living in neighborhoods with a preponderance of birds “are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress.” It didn’t matter where study participants lived—urban or suburban neighborhoods. As long as birds show up regularly,…
Belize’s breathtaking biodiversity unfolds through abundant rainfall, balmy temperatures, and vast swathes of pristine land. More than 4,000 different native flowering plants can be found in Belize, as well as more than 700 different species of trees and other flora, showcasing the incredible richness of Belize flora and fauna. Scientists have only just begun to catalog all of the different plants in the country—a challenging…