Vancouver
Situated on Canada’s west coast, Vancouver offers easy access to the ocean, islands, forests and mountains. Mount Seymour, Cyprus Mountain and Grouse Mountain dominate the northern skyline, providing opportunities for hiking, climbing and skiing in winter. For those who prefer the water to solid ground, activities include swimming, diving, sea kayaking, sailing and whale watching.
New York
The Big Apple is one of the busiest, most intense cities in the world, making it easy to forget that the tranquility and open space of the great outdoors is on the city’s doorstep. New York State offers activities such as mountain biking, hiking, climbing, kayaking and wildlife watching. Check out the Catskill Mountains, the Adirondack National Park, the Finger Lake region and the Hudson River Valley.
Glasgow
If you can tear yourself away from the splendor of its Victorian architecture, Glasgow provides an ideal gateway to the Scottish Highlands, possibly the only true wilderness remaining in Britain. If you’ve only got an hour or so to spend after work or at the weekend, nearby Loch Lomond offers fishing, water sports, hiking, camping and gorgeous scenery.
Bangkok
Thailand has around 48 national parks, offering scenery ranging from mountains and rain forests to marine reserves and islands. Outdoor activities in the country include scuba diving, hiking and rock climbing. Situated in central Thailand, Bangkok is an ideal base from which to explore a country that is rich both in natural habitats and the man-made wonders of ancient cities and temples.
Sydney
The area around Sydney offers more than 40 national parks, with an emphasis on wilderness. Highlights include the richly forested Blue Mountains National Park and the Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, famous for its aboriginal rock carvings. There are also plenty of opportunities here for hiking and camping, not forgetting more extreme activities such as skateboarding and surfing.