thedailyadventuresofme.com

Located just 90 minutes from Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road is home to abundant wildlife, exotic beaches, craggy hills, and a series of mesmerizing Great Ocean Road waterfalls. The Kennett River Koala walk is located along the Great Ocean Road, just east of Lorne. Formally known as Grey River Road, the Kennett River Koala walk is known for the large numbers of koalas who live in the eucalyptus trees above it. Here you can find the Remarkables Rock, a series of otherworldly rock formations shaped by the wind and sea, the historic Cape du Couedic lighthouse, and Admirals Arch which is a picturesque sea cave known for its stalactites.

Check out a few of these unexpected spots of beauty in the Midwest US. by Kristin of That Travelling Family Shawnee National Forest stretches across Southern Illinois with so many different areas to explore, from the Garden of the Gods to the Shawnee Wine Trails; there’s something for everyone. Just a little over 2 hours Southeast of St. Louis, many of the day hikes in the area are actually part of the 160 mile River to River Trail connecting the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and winding through tall rock formations, natural arches, and caves. Giant City State Park, just outside of Carbondale, is a great place to set up a home base for exploring all that there is to see in the western portion of the forest, like Little Grand Canyon, Ferne Clyffe State Park, or Tunnel Hill Bike Trail, while Herod is more centrally located to places like the Garden of the Gods, Cave-in Rock, and Jackson Falls. It’s been nearly 30 years since The Bridges of Madison County was published (and about as long since a movie version starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep was filmed in Madison County), but the covered bridges remain a popular attraction in the Hawkeye State.

Mackinac Island Fudge Ice Cream at Ryba’s Fudge Shop is the perfect combination of the two. The ferry ride is pretty quick (under half an hour), but be sure to book at least one of the legs for the SuperMac, which takes you under the Mackinac Bridge. This massive (24th longest main span bridge in the world) suspension bridge doesn’t lead to the island but instead connects Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to its Lower Peninsula. Where to Stay in St. Ignace St. Ignace is a small town on the banks of Lake Michigan on the Upper Peninsula. .

You can see over 30 works of art for free by walking around Pappajohn Sculpture Park, a 4.4-acre park in downtown Des Moines. Sports fans can watch the College World Series every June, architecture buffs will love the art deco Union Station, families will enjoy the largest rainforest in North America at the Henry Doorly Zoo (open year-round) and aviation enthusiasts won’t want to miss the cold-war aircraft at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum. Meanwhile, the world-class St. Louis Zoo tops many “Best Zoos in America” lists and is embedded in Forest Park which rivals the famous Central Park. You will find four other cultural institutions such as the St. Louis Art Museum, Science Center, and History Museum, all within the park