[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="New Travel Destinations For 2017 Part 2" ids="140161,140162,140163,140164,140165,140160"] By Mariam Nihal Saudi Gazette Last week we looked at four unique destinations across the world and now it is time to pick up where we left off. Since summer has arrived, everyone is planning their getaway, be it with families or for a fun-packed solo trip. Check out this week's chosen destinations for adventure, wonder and family entertainment.
Lake Lucerne, Switzerland A steamer cruise across the cerulean lake of Lucerne on a warm summer's day is without doubt something you must experience with the family. Saudis love Switzerland and it is not just for the Alps. Not only is the luxury aspect key to tourism derived from the Middle East but its authenticity, natural charm, snow capped mountains and scenic lake views continue to draw tourists from all over the world. Try the cruises on Lake Lucerne with your family to unravel nature's mystery and the historic sites along the bay of Lucerne. They will take you to Mount Rigi, the Transport Museum, the Glass Factory, Mount Pilatus, Stanserhorn, Klewenalp and Seelisberg. You can enjoy a series of water sports including experiences on a motor-powered saloon vessel or paddle wheel steamboats. Sail to Flüelen and experience some of the most magnificent panoramas anywhere in the Alps. An excursion to the popular sightseeing and shopping town of Lucerne is also included in cruises where you get to experience art, the Glacier Garden, a trip to the Swiss Museum of Transport with its IMAX cinema and a chance to experience the sights, sounds and flavors of the old town. Laos This stunning landscape offers mountains blanketed with jungles, centuries-old golden stupas, scattered historic monuments with ruins and beautiful waterfalls. The history of Laos stretches back to more than 10,000 years as stone tools and skulls unearthed in Huaphan and Luang Prabang provinces reportedly confirm. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO-protected town prized for its natural marvels and mix of traditional and French-colonial architecture. If you are a backpacker and love being on the run, go motorbiking on the Loop, explore the mysterious Plain of Jars, royal palaces and the province of Khammuan and take a trip into the underworld of Tham Kong Lor for a trip you will never forget. The giant jars in Xieng Khouang, the Plain of Jars, and stone columns in Huaphan province date from the Neolithic period. For those who appreciate art and history explore Wat Phu- a UNESCO World Heritage Site In Champasak, situated on a hillside offering stunning views over the breathtaking landscape and Mekong River. You can't help but admire the workmanship in this ruined Khmer complex in the form of pillars, terrace, courtyard, walls, doorways, sanctuary, library and palaces. Wat Phu is considered one of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos. This is definitely one of those places you really want to visit if you are a photographer, travel blogger or adventurer.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming One for the adventurers, summer in Jackson Hole is filled with outdoor activities. It is all about hiking, whitewater rafting, golfing, mountain biking, stagecoach rides and horseback riding. Jackson Hole is a valley between the Teton Mountain Range and the Gros Ventre Range in Wyoming. Mountains with flowing rivers surround these low-lying valleys and streams, which also serve as a great source for wildlife to thrive. Once you are off the slopes you can indulge in wildlife tours, sled tours, and sleigh rides. You can enjoy water sports including kayaking, or hang gliding and hot air balloons, among many more. For nature lovers, the Grand Teton National Park is a wonderland. The towering mountains of the Teton Range stretch 40 miles and include eight mountains over 12,000 feet. A great place for families, where you can enjoy activities, picnics and quality time, you can also indulge in the fast-paced side of things, like the Alpine Slide, where you slide down 2,500 feet of Snow King Mountain in a bobsled. For sport enthusiasts you have golf at Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club, designed by Arnold Palmer. Jackson Hole is also great for skiing, snowmobiling and ice
