Travel blog

There are few places as enchanting as Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain range. With waterfalls and majestic peaks, abundant wildlife and soaring sequoia groves, it is nature’s masterpiece. Capturing the beauty of places like Half Dome or El Capitan is the dream of every photographer and a magnificent reward for those lucky enough to visit. So, if your travel plans include this High Sierra landmark, make the most of your experience by capturing your memories in photos. Here are our top tips for photographing Yosemite National Park.

The city of Ketchikan, Alaska gets its name from a Tlingit word which means “thundering wings of an eagle.”

Often called the “first city” for its location at the southern tip of the Inside Passage, Ketchikan is a charming harbor town with a bustling boardwalk, a peppering of stilted water houses and backed by the forested slopes of Deer Mountain. But perhaps what this small town is most celebrated for is its collection of more than 80 totem poles.

So you’re going to Hawaii. You’ll no doubt want to experience the imposing volcano and the lush vegetation, the black-sand beaches and the surfers who hang ten on the local waves, but how can you make these memories last? One of the ways is to purchase some of the unique items made right here on the Islands. Here are our recommendations for the best gifts and souvenirs to take back from your visit to Hawaii.

100 Years of Wonder

As the United States prepares to celebrate the Centennial of the National Parks System, travelers will be heading out across our nation to explore the country’s natural wonders. We invite you to join YMT Vacations as we discover the history, wildlife and many fascinating things there are to see inside our nation’s parks.

Named for the famous Columbia Icefield and the sheer density of glaciers that pepper the route, the Icefields Parkway is one of the planet’s most picturesque drives.

Before you embark on your YMT Vacations journey, here’s what you can expect when traveling Highway 93:

For more than 300 miles, the Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Sites span out across the Rocky Mountains between British Columbia and Alberta, creating one of the largest protected areas on the planet.

Throughout this vast wilderness, elk and caribou roam freely and grizzly bears wander through postcard-worthy Alpine meadows. There are soaring mountain peaks and spectacular waterfalls, otherworldly Icefields and pristine glacial lakes. These natural gems offer some of the world’s most awe-inspiring scenery and provide every reason you need to see this place for yourself.

The Old World city of Amsterdam has long been called the “Venice of the North” because of its many canals and waterways. Teeming with quaint cafes and historic homes, trendy neighborhoods and unique attractions, there’s plenty to do and see.

Take a look at our top 10 things to do when traveling to Amsterdam:

The Origins of Irish Folklore

From ancient times, the Druids and the Celts believed in the power of magic. There are stories of sacred shamrocks that could ward off evil spirits, water sprites, fairies with the power to ruin a mortal's sleep, heartbroken banshees, and mischievous leprechauns. Even the lush natural landscape was shrouded in mythology. The gentle mist-covered lakes were once believed to be gateways to the Otherworld, while the Giant’s Causeway was a bridge built by Finn McCool to reach his love across the sea. This earnest belief in their magical creatures and famous Irish legends was so widespread and precious to the Irish people that it persevered through the centuries, and still remains part of Ireland’s literary legacy and its storied history.

It was 1933 when the road was completed that would skirt the shores of Loch Ness. Before long, local residents took to the new highway for Sunday afternoon drives and panoramic views of the glacier-gorged waterway.

It was on one such outing that a young couple claimed to have seen “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface.”

Although the legend of an aquatic beast in these Scottish waters had existed for more than a thousand years, it was this particular sighting that gave birth to Scotland’s most infamous mascot: Nessie: the Loch Ness “monster.”

Lauded by poets and authors, Connemara is a remote corner of Ireland beloved for its romantic landscapes and majestic scenery. With rusty peat bogs and miles of desolate coastline, glittering black lakes and soaring mountains, it is Ireland as Ireland used to be. Visitors come to this region on the edge of Europe in County Galway to wander amidst the startling landscapes, take in the untamed wonders of scenic byways, and explore the quaint villages that pepper the region. Here are just some of the top things to do when traveling to Connemara.