To read a review of Capella Lodge by Kristi (a FirstClass team member), click here.

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Start “climbing" it at the incredible Grand Canyon… stay on it through the Painted Desert… into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell… past the Vermillion, White, Grey and Pink Cliffs… on to the pinnacles and hoodoos of Bryce Canyon… and right into the cliffs and valleys of Zion National Park. “It" is the Grand Staircase of the Escalante – a vast, unbroken expanse of colorful sedimentary rock layers that took nature over 200 million years to create, and envisioned by a 19th-century geologist as a series of gigantic “steps" stretching across the Southwest. And all these wonders are part of it…

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Discover an adventure like no other at Kimberley Coastal Camp from a selection of family friendly activities. Get up and go fishing or swimming at pristine beaches, take an expedition to explore ancient rocks or simply kick back and relax.

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We at FirstClass.com.au got the chance to go and see the new documentary America Wild last week and were blown away by the beautiful footage of America’s national parks. Narrated by Robert Redford, the film is an impressive exploration of the United State’s National Parks to celebrate their itinerary and follows famous mountaineer Conrad Anker, adventure photographer Max Lowe and artist Rachel Pohl as they hike, climb and explore their way across America’s majestic parks in an action-packed expedition. 

If you live near an IMAX theatre it is well worth the time to go and see. Here is the trailer for the film:

Inspired by the journey of Conrad and friends, here is our pick for the top destinations of the best national parks in USA:

Yellowstone National Park – Fire and Water

Sitting atop the world’s largest super volcano, Yellowstone National Park is a place where you can first hand witness the power and majesty of mother nature. The park is spotted with gorgeous thermal pools and over half of the world’s geysers, where the heat of the Earth’s beating heart break through the surface. The definite highlight amongst this is the famous Morning Glory Pool which is resplendent in dozens of shades of rich blue and green. For these gorgeous pools, powerful geysers, natural wildlife and picturesque landscapes Yellowstone is one of the best national parks in the USA.

The Grand Canyon – The Valley of the Eagle

446km long, 29 km wide and 1.6 km deep, the Grand Canyon definitely lives up to its name. The enormous gorge that was carved by the flowing of the Colorado River is a truly breathtaking sight to behold. You’ll feel dwarfed by the immensity when you stand on the edge of the world’s most famous canyon. Also worth the time is the nearby Hoover Dam, the spectacular wonder of modern engineering that stems the flow of the Colorado River in Black Canyon.

Devils Tower, Wyoming – The Climb of the Great Bear

Looming over 360 metres into the air above the trees on Wyoming’s eastern plains this massive rock formation is at the centre of Native American myth. As the legend goes the marks that run down the side of the natural stone monolith were carved by the claws of the Great Bear. These stories have captured the imagination of politicians, writers, poets and even Steven Spielberg who used it for a centre piece in his film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The walk to the tower is also a joy, with lush local vegetation being spotted with colourful prayer flags that fly in the wind the whole area is worth exploring as one of the best national parks in USA. Even further afield you can see the endangered Prairie Dogs, delightful little creatures who have their own unique vocabulary, which include special sounds for each different predator or danger.

Glacier National Park, Montana – Crown of the Continent

Called the crown of the continent, glacier national park in Montana is a picturesque expression of pristine forests, alpine meadows, rugged mountains and spectacular lakes. Spanning across the border of the US and Canada a visit here is perfect for anyone who seeks wilderness and solitude. You can relive the days gone by in historic chalets and lodges, while you walk hike or boat your way through some of the most incredible landscapes on offer in this list of the best national parks in USA.

Redwood National Park, California – Towering Green Giants

Home to the tallest and oldest trees on the planet the Redwood UNESCO World Heritage Site is one for the bucket list and one of the best national parks in USA. There is no experience like walking beneath the shade of these ancient giants and at any time of year you will have your breath taken away by the park’s verdant beauty. Be warned though, this giant forest relies on fire for new growth and rebirth, so try not to travel during the fire season.

Yosemite National Park – The First National park in the World

The country’s and the world’s first ever protected national park, Yosemite is a favourite for travellers from around the globe and maybe the best national park in the USA. It’s dramatic waterfalls, giant sequoias, abundant wildlife and awe inspiring cliffs have captured the dreams of famous poets like John Muir and even President Theodore Roosevelt who proclaimed it protected land in 1864. Ever year travellers follow in Muir and Roosevelt’s footsteps as they get close to natures heart and listen for the sound. From the giant tumbling waterfalls of Brida Iveil, to the sierra mountainsides covered in giant sequoia trees and the impressive El Capitan, the largest exposed granite monolith in the world.

Bryce Canyon, Utah – Forest of Stone

Bryce Canyon is one of 13 national parks in Utah and probably its most famous. The canyon is home to an impressive collection of stone spires, known as Hoodoos, which resemble a forest made of rock. The odd shape of the hoodoos is made by erosion and water freezing inside and exploding into freedom, the overall effect is enchanting to behold, particularly at sunset and makes it one of the best national parks in USA.

Katmai National Park, Alaska – Home of the Bears

Every year millions of salmon rush out from the Bering Sea into the lakes and streams of the Katmai National Park. For the Salmon, this upstream swim is an annual trial to get to the breeding grounds inland, but for their big furry neighbours its feeding time. Katmai is home to the world’s largest population of brown bears and you can see them frolicking, relaxing or catching salmon all throughout the park. Watching the bears catch the jumping salmon is an experience not to be missed, especially when the youngsters wade out to have a try, you haven’t seen the cute side of these wild beasts until you’ve seen a baby brown bear learning to catch salmon.

Pictured Rock National Lakeshore, Michigan – Summer and Winter Wonderland

During summer the Pictured Rocks Lakeland is a waterside wonderland with miles of trails, pristine beaches and serene blue water. But during winter is when this national park becomes truly spectacular. The massive lake freezes over and the waterfalls create sheets of ice that more experienced travellers can climb! Explore a bit more around the edge of the lake and you’ll be rewarded with magical secret ballrooms of ice and snow and one of the best winter national parks in the USA.

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What– Chagan Lake located in northeastern China is the largest inland lake in Jilin Province. The name “Chagan" is from Mongolian, meaning sacred, pure or white, so the lake is often referred to as Sacred Lake or Holy Water Lake by local people. 

Chagan Lake is the only place that saves the oldest Mongolia fishing method. It is listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of the People’s Republic of China. The fine water quality and well-protected environment make the lake a heaven for fish and shrimp. The annual number of fish produced here reaches 3000 tons.

People here have made a living by fishing in Chagan Lake for thousands of years, especially during the long severe winters. The large number of fish in the lake feed people here and provide them with extra money to cover their living expenses. A ceremony is held before the start of the winter fishing season each year to give thanks to the gods and pray for a bountiful catch and the fishermen’s personal safety.

Passed down from generation to generation, winter fishing and the Buddhist ceremony on Chagan Lake have been regarded as an interesting tourism attraction. The activity lasting 40 days produces not only fresh food for the visitors, but also gives them an opportunity to interact with nature.

During the winter fishing season, the veteran head of the fishermen determines the areas of the ice where they will dig holes to try to catch schools of fish. The fishermen dig more than 400 holes spaced 60 meters apart in the marked area. Then a 2,000-meter-long net is cast into the water and affixed to the bottom of the lake with bars and hooks. The huge net sinks into the water as the fishermen wait for the fish to appear.

Several hours later, the fishermen winch up the nets through the ice holes. Scores of fish jump from the ice and are stacked into hills. The entire procedure requires more than 60 people. If anything goes wrong at any time, the operation will fail. In 2008, a single net holding 168,000 kilos of fish broke the local record for the largest single catch.

After they drink bowls of wine, the fishermen ride on sledges, cracking their whips and rushing towards other sections of the frozen lake. Are you ready to join them and taste what nature has to offer?

How to get there:

-from Harbin, about 3.5 hours driving;
-from Changchun, about 3 hours driving;
-from Shenyang, about 5 hours driving;
-public transport such as railways and coaches are available.

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Lie on postcard perfect deserted beaches, dive in one of the best preserved reef systems in the region, sea kayak to secret caves and swim in crystal clear azure seas while sea eagles and kites circle overhead.

Where would you do this? The Mergui Archipelago in Southern Myanmar, home to the sea gypsies; a sea dwelling people that follow a traditional way of life and subsist on fishing and boat building. It consists of 800 islands that were completely isolated until 1997 and now offer a taste of paradise.

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The type of fish caught range from Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, MahiMahi, Giant Trevally and Coral Trout to name a few. The hoice is yours.

You can choose full and half-day big game and reef fishing charters on both “Synergy" (37ft) and “Opulence" (54ft). A typical day starts at around 7:00a.m. and runs for approximately 8 hours.

Synergy is our new 37ft purpose custom-built sports fishing vessel. She is in Fiji survey and licensed to carry 12 passengers comfortably. Synergy is powered by twin Yanmar 330hp shaft drive diesel engines and has been equipped with the latest, state of the art Raymarine electronics and safety equipment. There is an abundance of deck space, a roomy platform in the tower and plenty of comfortable seating both inside the cabin and out on deck. You can’t help but be impressed.

You can choose full and half-day big game and reef fishing charters on both “Synergy" (37ft) and “Opulence" (54ft). A typical day starts at around 7:00a.m. and runs for approximately 8 hours.

Synergy has on board the best fishing equipment available so you can take advantage of what ever is on strike.
Extensive equipment on board Synergy includes:
130lb Reelax game chair,
Shimano reels (Tiagra, Tyrnos, Stella),
Shimano, Penn, Ugly rods,
Lure kits (hard bodies and rigged pushers),
Poppers, Jigs and Teasers, just to name a few.

Ready to reel in the big one? Synergy’s skipper is friendly, knowledgeable and knows exactly where the big ones like to prowl. He has fished every inch of these waters and can show you where the haunts are throughout the Mamanuca Islands. With his advice and assistance you can be certain that yours WON’T be the one that got away!

Opulence is a new Riviera 51ft Platinum Hardtop Enclosed. She really is the best of both worlds – the outdoor experience with all the indoor comforts and a full-blown game fishing machine. Opulence is an ideal all-seasons luxury cruiser or gamefishing vessel.

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