5 Outdoor Wonders Just Beyond Berlin

If you're going to be in New York City this weekend, don't miss the Duckathlon. Wait, what? Yes, the Duckathlon is a daylong food festival that will take you on an "experiential journey" from farm to table. Presented by D'Artagnan—which produces some of the tastiest poultry and game meats by working with small farms and making sustainability and humane farming practices a priority—Duckathlon will include demonstrations and challenges led by top chefs and farmers. When you're not tasting great food or watching a chef teach kitchen skills, you can interact with farmers and chefs to learn more about responsible farming and local sourcing. And if you're game, you can participate in some of the two dozen interactive challenges, such as identifying cuts of meat with Chef Shane McBride of NYC's Balthazar, taking a quiz on squab husbandry (yes, squab husbandry is a thing that exists), and test your knowledge of swine anatomy using a pig puzzle. Prizes will include wine, kitchen knives, whole hams courtesy of D'Artagnan, restaurant gift certificates, and Duckathlon medals. The Duckathlon is a benefit for Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian agency that feeds malnourished children and helps communities become self-sufficient. The agency's FoodLove initiative connects food enthusiasts and brands to the fight to end world hunger. When: Saturday June 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St., NYC Tickets: Open to adults 21 and older, $60 (groups of four will receive a 10 percent discount).

Visitors to Washington D.C. this weekend shouldn't miss the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (5 Henry Bacon Drive, nps.gov/vive). This deceptively simple wall, designed by American sculptor Maya Lin, lists the names of more than 58,000 American men and women who died in the Vietnam War. The enormity of the loss and the presence of visitors searching for a loved one among the names, which are listed chronologically, make this understated memorial unique and unforgettable.

June 6th, 2014, marks the 70th anniversary of one of the most memorable battles in history, D-Day, when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Northern France, effectively changing the tide of war in favor of victory. This is an exciting time to be in France's Normandy region, home to picturesque cities like Honfleur, Bayeux, and Caen, as well as popular scenic sites like Mont St. Michel, a UNESCO world heritage site that shouldn't be missed if you're in the area. The region is celebrating the 70th Anniversary of D-Day by hosting a series of events from June 1-15 including a parade of D-Day amphibious jeeps and British boats on June 5th at Carentan, a Memorial Parade and Concert for Peace on Friday, June 6th, at Sainte Mère Église, Glenn Miller style concerts on the beaches of Arromanches followed by an impressive fireworks display, an air show on June 7th, a Liberty Dance in Bayeux with Big Band Jazz music, and festive family picnics on Omaha Beach. A parachuting display will take place Sunday, June 8th, at Sainte Mère Église, and three 1940s-era military camps will be set up in Carentan, Sainte Mère Église, and Vierville Sur Mere to demonstrate what military life was like in an American military camp, for paratroopers, and post-liberation. Click here for a full list of area events. I'm going to be visiting the area from June 3–8, touring the WWII sites, beaches, and memorials, visiting the festivities, and hearing accounts from Veterans who were there that day. I'm going to be staying just outside the town of Bayeux at theHotel iBis Budget Bayeux, an Accor Hotel we featured on our "World's Best Budget Hotels" Pinterest board. By the time I booked my trip, car rentals in the area were down to only manual shift vehicles (which, unfortunately, I don't know how to drive) and overpriced BMW automatic shift cars that would cost upwards of $500 for just a few days, not to mention the fact that gas is now running $7–$8 a gallon! I was able to find a company in Bayeux called Bayeux Shuttle that runs day-trips to all the big sites and attractions—I'll be taking a full-day tour of the Normandy Beaches and Memorials one day, taking a half-day trip to Mont St. Michel, and testing out the local bus routes (and inevitably, taxis) as I make my way to various events along the coast. I've been reading about affordable bike rentals in Bayeux, so might look into that as well. I'll be posting photos to our Budget Travel Instagram Page, so follow along as I explore this beautiful region, and visit our new "Stunning Scenes From France" Pinterest board to get a better idea of where I'll be heading. On a personal note, my grandfather on my father's side was actually supposed to fight on the Normandy Beaches that day—he was stationed somewhere in Morocco with the U.S. Navy but got pneumonia right before his regiment was shipped out to France and had to stay behind. It's crazy to think I might not even be here today if he had gone—and to think I'll be visiting Normandy for him all these years later. We want to hear from you: have you ever visited the WWII sites of Northern France? Have you explored the Normandy region without a car? Tell us all about it below!

This article was written by Sia Ling Xin, who travels and writes about it for Asiarooms.com, a blog and online community focused on travelling in Asia. You can also find her on Twitter. Empty beaches. Gentle waves. Coconut drinks. Chirping birds. Beaches so lonely, it takes a 3-hour car ride and two ferry crossings to get to them. Yet, the two Thai islands that form Ko Lanta are wonderfully self-sufficient, with so much to see and do—and so much to offer even if you truly want to just lie back and relax, and not to indulge in any sightseeing activities. If you're sick of the hustle and bustle of more mainstream Thai islands and want a hideaway to clear your mind and invigorate your senses, Ko Lanta is the place for you. Lonely beaches All visitors will arrive on the north side of the island, and this is where the more commercialized beaches are. The more south one goes, the lonelier the beaches get. However, being an island only the most determined and discerning people seek, even the popular northern beaches, Klong Dao and Long Beach, hardly have more than a handful of people on them at any time. Most fresh arrivals opt for these beaches—if you have a few more nights, it would be interesting to book accommodations along Kantiang Bay and Klong Din down south as well, and split your stay between the two beaches.   Those feeling adventurous can hire a speedboat (for about 1800 baht per person) and head to the nearby Ko Rok Island—famed for idyllic white beaches and emerald waters. Monitor lizards are a common sight here, and lucky snorkelers may even spot a reef shark or turtle. From budget to luxury, there's a room for everyone I stayed at Twin Lotus Resort and Spa on Klong Dao beach, which has a gorgeous beachfront infinity pool (along with beachfront villas). Many a morning was spent lounging by the pool after a delectable buffet breakfast. The above-18 rule also meant there were no noisy children splashing or running around, perfect for those looking for serenity. The entire resort is beautifully landscaped with ponds, vivid green lawns, and coconut trees dotting the property. Rooms start at $70 a night. Prima Lai, located on the Southern end of the island, is worth a splurge (rooms from $170 a night) if you're looking for a very intimate, very exclusive experience. Overlooking Kantiang Bay, the resort is known for a certain isolated beauty, while providing everything you could possibly need for a romantic beach vacation. Those on a budget can also easily find bungalows below $30 per night. These may be more basic, with no pools or breakfast included, but with the sea so close by, and good and affordable food easily available, not having these frills should not be a problem. Delectable seafood over the sea Check out Saladan Town, with its row of great seafood restaurants (budget 450 baht or about $15 for a multi-dish seafood dinner for two, including beer). Saladan Seafood (look out for a green sign) as well as Laanta Seafood (you'll spot a small wine shack a few steps after the entrance) both serve up authentic Thai food and uber-fresh seafood on the cheap. There are also many street food carts (a whole mango expertly sliced and served over glutinous rice, topped with coconut milk and rice krispies, for 70 baht), fruit smoothies (100 baht) and all sorts of kebabs, meat-on-a-stick, and fried noodles (budget about 150 baht). Find serenity in the hands of a masseuse The streets are dotted with massage parlours, and each has its own character and are worth checking out. One is particularly worthy of mention—Serenity Massage and Spa, along the streets of Saladan, offers an experience which would cost 10 times more its 350 baht per hour price tag (about $11) in anywhere but Thailand. Beautiful paintings adorn a room bathed in yellow light; the surroundings are clean, tinkling with soft music, and zen. The masseuses are polite and friendly, though a little chatty at times. The Thai massages here did wonders for my sore shoulders. My favourite part was the after-service complimentary fruit and tea on their back balcony, which overlooks the vast sea. Talk about ambience! Animal lovers, rejoice! The island also houses a precocious set-up for a Thai island—a full-fledged animal rescue and welfare centre. Known as Lanta Animal Welfare (LAW), the center has sterilized and treated more than 8,000 animals despite receiving no government funding. It is also incredibly well-run and organized: there are tours that start on the hour every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors are welcome to play with the cats or bring the dogs out for a walk by the beach. The same folks behind the center also run cooking school and restaurant Time For Lime, a six-course Thai food tasting menu at 450 baht, with 100 baht cocktails during Happy Hour. All proceeds from the business go towards LAW. What better reason to try their signature lemongrass and chilli cocktails? How to get there The fastest way is to fly in to Krabi airport and hire a taxi or private car transfer. Check out Kohlantataxi.com to get a quote. My experience with them was professional and fuss-free. If you like to make a grand entrance, arriving by speedboat would cut down some travelling time. Should budget be an issue, get down and dirty with the super-cheap mini-van route—it's an experience in itself! The island is also accessible from Phuket and other nearby Thai islands.