What Are Your Favorite Things to do in London and Paris?

This article was written by Wendy Worrall Redal, Editorial Director at Natural Habitat Adventures. There's no question that Africa's legendary wildebeest migration is a bucket-list dream for nature travelers. But the fact is, Africa is expensive to get to, even for a budget safari. If you're fascinated by epic wildlife pilgrimages, here are three amazing phenomena you can witness without leaving North America. Gray WhalesOctober marks the beginning of the world's longest mammal migration: the epic journey of the Pacific gray whales from their summer feeding grounds in Alaska to the birthing and nursery lagoons of Mexico's Baja Peninsula. When the northern waters begin to freeze, the whales take a cue to head south, traveling 24 hours a day to cover more than 5,000 miles. Gray whales swim very close to the coast and are often seen from shore, revealed by their spouts as they exhale. By December the first of the whales—usually pregnant females—have reached the warm, protected waters of Baja, preparing to give birth and raise their young. In February and March, whale-watchers who visit the subtropical lagoons are often treated to close-up encounters with gentle mothers and their young—it's not uncommon for a friendly whale to guide her baby right up alongside an open skiff to show it off to delighted tourists. The Pacific coast offers excellent gray whale watching in the winter and spring. Whales are frequenty spotted from Oregon's many roadside pull-offs along the ocean (bring binoculars for the best view), or scout for spouts from Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco. To come closer, consider a boat-based outing. Various day-tour operators and marine education groups offer whale-watching cruises, such as the Oceanic Society's naturalist-led 3-hour trip out of Half Moon Bay on weekends from December through May. For the ultimate thrill, book a Baja tour with multiple excursions among the whales. Sandhill CranesFor nature lovers, especially bird enthusiasts, few spectacles can compete with the annual sandhill crane migration along Nebraska's Platte River each spring. From late February through early April—usually peaking in mid-to-late March—some 500,000 sandhill cranes stage along the riverbanks to feed and build up fat reserves. The tall, graceful birds are accompanied by thousands of waterfowl, shorebirds and other species that also migrate through the area, creating a cacophonous frenzy in the marshes. Fort Kearney State Historical Park serves as the central information point for crane watchers each spring, with maps and guidance for how to watch from the many viewing decks and bridges in the Kearney and Grand Island area where the greatest number of cranes congregate. Several roadside turnouts offer a chance to see cranes from one's car, though the best experience is from within a specially designated blind. Rowe Sanctuary, operated by the National Audubon Society and Crane Meadows, a private non-profit nature center, offer sunrise and sunset blind tours for close-up views of cranes along the river. Reservations are required, and the cost is $15-18 per person. For more information on viewing the crane migration, consult Nebraska Game and Parks. Monarch ButterfliesWith the first frosts of autumn in southern Canada and the northeastern U.S., monarch butterflies take to the skies, drawn south by an innate compass that remains a mystery to scientists. Flying 50 miles a day for two to three months—up to 3,000 miles in all—they arrive at their winter roosting grounds in Mexico's central highlands by early November. The fir forests of this remote region of Michoacan provide just the right microclimate for the tens of millions of butterflies that congregate here, finding refuge in the fog and freezing rain at 10,000 feet by clinging together to the trunks and brunches in great clumps. At first sight they resemble heavy cloaks of autumn leaves, till the sun comes out to warm their wings and they swirl into the air in a fluttering cloud of orange. This is the only place in the world where one can literally hear the sound of butterfly wings beating. The millions of gossamer orange and black-veined wings create a gentle hum as the monarchs float about, sometimes landing on an enchanted visitor's head or hand. Once the warm winds of spring arrive in early March, the monarchs fly once again, following the blooming milkweed that sustains them on their northward journey. Travelers who want to stand among the monarchs must travel into the mountains above the former silver-mining village of Anguangeo to one of several butterfly sanctuaries that are accessible on foot via a steep hike or by horseback. A guided package tour is the best approach; most are approximately one-week affairs that typically begin and end in Mexico City and include other natural and cultural highlights in addition to the butterflies.

Elizabeth Minchilli is the host of the blog Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome and author of the book Eating Rome and the apps Eat Rome, Eat Florence, and Eat Venice. You asked for it, you got it. A list of where to eat pizza in Rome. It's a bit of a mixed bag. Some old school places and some quite new. There are a LOT of pizzerias in Rome, and I obviously can't include them all. These are just the short list of places that I know, and love. Rather than write extended descriptions/reviews here, I've kept it short and sweet. You'll find the full story on my app, Eat Rome. And where I've already written a blog post about a particular restaurant, I've included the link to that as well. FYI: In case you don't know, when talking pizza in Rome there are basically three kinds: Pizza a taglio: This is sheet pizza, sold mostly in small store fronts that specialize in this type, but also sold in some bakeries. It is sold by the weight and has various toppings. You can either buy it to take away, or (usually) eat it standing up at a counter. Pizza: When most people say 'pizza' in Rome they mean small, round single serving pizzas. These are made to order at pizzerias, usually in a wood burning oven. Almost always pizzerias are only open at night, so this is a dinner kind of thing (there are some notable and recent exceptions). Pizza Bianca: This is white pizza dough that has been baked in a sheet. It is sold in bakeries and is a true 'street food' in that it is meant to be eaten while hot, right away. (A note about Roman pizza vs. Neopolitan pizza: Roman pizza is made with a very thin crust, and barely any rim around the edge. Neopolitan pizza is thicker, doughier, and has a thick puffy crust along the edge. There are also variations that are some where between the two.) Pizzerie Pizzeria LeoncinoVia del Leoncino 28 (Spanish Steps)06.686.7757Lunch & Dinner. Closed Wednesday. It's hard to find a good pizzeria that is open for lunch. Also, the area in the center of Rome (Spanish Steps) makes this even more of a challenge. This place is both centrally located and open at lunch. Very much an old fashioned neighborhood place. Speciality: Pizza with onions, beans and sausage. See my post. Gatta Mangiona Via Ozanam 30-32 (Monteverde) 06.534.6702 Tues - Sun, Dinner. Considered by many to be the best pizzeria in Rome. A Roman take on Neopolitan. Inventive toppings. See Eat Rome and this post for full description. La Fucina Via Giuseppe Lunati 25/31 (Portuense) 06.559.3368 Sunday - Friday, dinner only. Closed Saturday. Extraordinary dough and toppings. Very expensive (but worth it) See my blog post. Pizzeria alle Carrette Via Madonna dei Monti 95 06.679.2770 Daily for dinner. Just our local pizza place, which is very, very good. Thin Roman crust. Every neighborhood has a good pizza place, this is ours. See my blog post. Sforno Via Statilio Ottato 114 (Tuscolana, Metro: Subagusta) 06.715.46118 Out of the way, fantastic pizzeria, Neopolitan style. See my blog post. Ai Marmi Viale Trastevere 53 (Trastevere) 06.580.0919 Dinner only. Closed Wednesday. If you want to feel like you are in a Fellini movie, head here. Hasn't changed in about 60 years. Rough and ready service. Don't worry if there is a line, tables turn fast. Porto Fluviale Via del Porto Fluviale 22 (Ostiense) 06.574.3199 One of the few places where you can reserve a table for a pizza, and that also is open at lunch. You can choose between either Roman or Neopolitan style. There are certainly better pizza places on this list, but this one is convenient, a nice setting and is good. See my blog post and video. Pizza a Taglio Pizzarium Via della Meloria 43 (near Vatican, metro Cipro) 06.397.45416 Most famous pizza place in Italy? Possibly. See my posts here, and here, and here. And Eat Rome as well. 00100 Via Giovanni Branca 88 (Testaccio) 06.434.19627 Daily 12 - 11pm. Fantastic pizza by the slice from the same owner as Sforno. Also the home of the trapizzini, a triangular pizza pouch filled with things like meatballs and tripe. See this blog post. Panella Via Merulana 54 Open daily Better known as a bakery they have extraordinary pizza by the slice. Forno La Renella Via del Moro 15 (Trastevere) Daily, 9am - 1am. Known for it's large loaves of rustic bread, they are also the makers of some of the best loved pizza by the slice in Trastevere. Almost always open.  Roscioli Bakery Via dei Chiavari 34 06.686.4045 Most famous bakery in Rome? Many say so. Yes, fantastic bread, but also amazing pizza by the slice. Bakeries (pizza bianca, etc) Forno di Campo di Fiori Piazza Campo dei Fiori 22 Open daily, 7:30-2; 4:45 - 8. Closed Sunday. One of the oldest bakeries in town. Fresh, hot pizza bianca all day long. Roscioli See above. Is their pizza bianca better than Forno di Campo dei Fiori? Try both, and you decide. Renella See above. Panella See above. Antico Forno Urbani Piazza Costaguti 30 (Ghetto) Old fashioned bakery that has the best pizza rossa in town. This is thin crusted pizza  that is spread with the thinnest layer of tomato sauce, imaginable. No cheese. Extra: Pizza places that are famous but that I've never been to Da Remo Piazza di Santa Maria Liberatrice 44 (Testaccio) Dinner only, closed Sunday. Very thin crusted Roman pizza. A real scene, there is always a line. Which is probably why I've never been. Tonda Via Valle Corteno 31 (Montesacro) 06.818.0960 Located in a suburban neighborhood, and owned by the same owner as Sforno and 00100. Gluten Free Mama! Eat Via di San Cosimato 9 06.580.6222 I've actually been here, but have never ordered pizza. The pasta was great. Seriously gluten free, with two separate kitchens. 

Browsing the results of Zagat's 2013 Top Food In NYC survey is just a bit like strolling down a Manhattan street on a still-warm October evening: You may catch the aromas of garlic, lemongrass, and grilled meats from bustling kitchens, the bouquet of freshly uncorked reds and whites at sidewalk tables—but you ain't got the time or the money to sit down and order a nice dinner for yourself. In a nutshell, New York's best restaurants are mind-blowingly expensive. Don't get me wrong. I'm a native New Yorker and I'm as proud as the next guy (well, unless the next guy happens to be Eric Ripert) that our restaurants are as innovative, diverse, and uncompromising as the five boroughs themselves. But geez, can a father of two on a magazine editor's salary catch a break? Well, yeah. As a matter of fact, some of the chefs whose eateries top this year's Zagat survey are enterprising and forward-thinking enough to have launched affordable spinoffs of their restaurants. Not ready, willing, or able to lavish $300+ per person on a single meal any time soon? Check out these tasty NYC alternatives, where the creativity of top chefs is plated daily for a fraction of the flagship prices: Bouchon Bakery. Thomas Keller's French restaurant Per Se ranked number three on this year's Zagat survey, and it comes with a price tag to match that honor—topping $300 per person. But Keller's awesome Bouchon Bakery, with locations at NYC's Columbus Circle and Rockefeller Center (not to mention Yountville, Calif., Beverly Hills, and the Venetian in Las Vegas) serves up luxurious quiches, delicate croissants, and its namesake bouchons (cork-shaped brownie-like treats), among other peerless baked goods at only slightly higher than average bakery prices. Bar Boulud. At number four on the Zagat survey, Daniel Boulud's eponymous Daniel serves some of the finest French cuisine in the the city, but you can't really get out of there for less than, say, $140 or so. Meet Bar Boulud, near Lincoln Center for the Peforming Arts on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Offering innovative riffs on corn soup, roasted chicken, and ravioli, this comfortable joint has a prix fixe lunch for $29 and dinner for two for $74. Spice Market. Alsatian star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Jean-Georges is number six on the Zagat survey, but for those a little antsy about the $150+ price tag, there's Spice Market, a gem in New York's meatpacking district. A $25 prix fixe lunch on weekdays and reasonably priced south Asia-inspired dishes like Thai noodles, vindaloo, and other, yes, spicy favorites allow you to experience Vongerichten's breathtaking imagination at a down-to-earth price.

The Car-Free Traveler, Lauren Matison, co-founder and editor of offMetro.com. The last time I woke to the sounds of cock-a-doodle-doo, I was in a farmhouse in the south of France, very far from home in Manhattan. While I haven't set my alarm ringtone to "rooster" since that trip four years ago, I do miss omelets with freshly laid eggs and the buzz of bees in the lavender bushes. On a recent morning that finally smelled like autumn in New York, I found myself wondering where a car-less New Yorker can wake up on a farm without having to drive or fly? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are over 129,850 farms in the Northeast, but most do not offer farmcations or easily accessible roads. Not to be deterred, and hungry for a little peace and quiet—and those freshly laid eggs—I unearthed five outstanding spots celebrating a new farm to table to bed movement. The Homestead at Seven Arrows East   Sustainable Slumber: Though just a 45-minute ferry ride from Manhattan, this year-round yoga retreat, education studio, and CSA farm could not feel farther away from the city. Perched on 20 acres of land on the banks of the Navesink River in Monmouth County, New Jersey, The Homestead is lovingly looked after by former Brooklyn farmers Meg, Michael, and Neil and their Maremma Sheep Dogs, trained livestock guardians that live with the goats, which you're welcome to milk. Nestled near 700-acre Hartshorne Woods and Sandy Hook, this sustainable sanctuary thrives on sharing its organic produce and pearls of agronomic wisdom while inviting city folk to roam free, read under an apple tree, and reboot. In addition to the monthly yoga retreats, The Homestead offers classes ranging from beekeeping to soup and bread making to growing and foraging edible mushrooms. If you want to check out the place before spending the night in their cozy, minimalist digs, attend one of their new BYOB vegan farm dinners (http://veganfarmtotabledinner-eorg.eventbrite.com/, $75), featuring a five course menu that, "we feel, demonstrates how luxuriously one can eat from one's own field." (Hartshorne Road, Locust, NJ, http://sevenarrowseast.com/, dorm room for $400, private room for $650 for a three-day retreat, which includes lodging, meals, and workshops.) Get There: Seven Arrows is 45 minutes from Manhattan and reachable via Seastreak Ferry to Atlantic Highlands. Chebeague Island Inn Sustainable Slumber: On the tiny turtle-shaped island of Chebeaugue (that's shuh-Beeg, meaning 'isle of many springs') off the coast of Portland, Maine, this grand hilltop hotel dating back to the 1920s is the kind of hidden gem travelers want but rarely make the effort to find. The journey, which takes you from a scenic train trip to the Old Port to a ferry, is half the fun of the getaway and worth every step. Once you've arrived, there is golf, tennis, boating, bocce ball, free bikes, and plenty of secluded rocky coves reminiscent of a Hopper painting (visit Deer Point and Bennett Cove), but the draw for adventurous foodies will be the Farm to Table package (available late May—October 7). The special includes a two-night stay, daily gourmet breakfast, a box lunch and local bottle of Oyster River Wine, a guided tour of Second Wind Farm, and a three-course dinner for two using produce from the farm. The package requires a $100 donation towards the farm, where much of the Inn's menu is sourced. After learning about Second Wind, island farming and the deep-rooted relationship the hotel has with local farmers and fishermen, join Executive Chef Rowe as he creates your farm-to-table meal. (61 South Road, Chebeague Island, http://www.chebeagueislandinn.com, from $180/night, add on $100 for the Farm to Table package and call 207/846-5155 to book it.) Get There: Take Amtrak to Portland. Hop a taxi or take the 5 Bus to the Metro Pulse station, and walk 10 minutes to the port for the leisurely 90-minute Casco Bay Ferry ride ($11.05 for a round-trip ride). Make arrangements prior to arrival and the Inn will send a complimentary van to pick you up. Sprout Creek Inn Sustainable Slumber: When you open the front door to your cottage, there won't be concrete or rushed pedestrians or cabs, and the only honks you'll hear will be from ducks. You'll want to greet the neighbors-chickens, goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and their babies-who you'll soon get to know on a first name basis. You never thought you'd feel at home on the range, but here, surrounded by green pastures, happy animals, and a private outdoor garden, the farm life suits you-if just for the weekend. Stock your cottage pantry with artisanal cheese, charcuterie, eggs, produce, pasta, and baked goods at the Sprout Creek Farm market, then roll up your sleeves to milk the cows, feed the sheep or gather eggs. In between a hot air balloon ride (that lifts off from the farm) and a cheese-making workshop, you'll discover this is the easiest place to unplug. Chef Mark Fredette can prepare lunch or dinner, which comes with a complimentary bottle of wine and a cheese plate, so you won't have to dine elsewhere and leave the farm-except for that aerial tour of the Hudson Valley. The next time you're in Whole Foods, pick up Sprout Creek's new Kinkead or Batch 35 cheese and remember how you spent a weekend on a farm two hours north of New York City. When was the last time you thought of cheese as something more than what goes on a cracker? (34 Lauer Road, Poughkeepsie, http://www.sproutcreekfarm.org, the Country Cottage Getaway at Sprout Creek Farm is $475 for a two-night stay for up to five people. To make a reservation, call Andrea 845/485-8438 or email andrea@sproutcreekfarm.org.) Get There: Take Metro-North Hudson line to Poughkeepsie, then a Del Ray taxi, 845/452-1222, for the 15-minute ride to the farm. Ocean House  Sustainable Slumber: Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk, and Block Island, the Ocean House on Watch Hill originally opened in 1868 and comprises 13 acres of oceanfront landscape and a 650-foot private white-sand beach, where you'll spend nights listening to crashing waves and a crackling bonfire. On any given day, complimentary resort activities might include tai chi, a croquet clinic, juicing and cocktail classes, art workshops and movie screenings, and sitting on a plush couch doing nothing but enjoying live jazz. Although there are many reasons to stay here, it's the Farm + Vine series that the Ocean House is most proud of. Every week, the program offers free classes led by a food forager or chef in Seasons restaurant's open exhibition kitchen or community farm. In addition to on-site cooking demonstrations and wine tastings, guests are invited to visit local farms, wineries and fishing docks to select the ingredients for that evening's meal. The monthly Farm + Vine dinner ($95/pp) brings the best New England chefs to prepare hors d'oeuvres and a three-course, wine-paired dinner. The monthly In the Kitchen Culinary Education series will send you home feeling inspired to cook using local, in-season fare after learning some secrets from the resort's chefs. (1 Bluff Ave., Watch Hill, http://www.oceanhouseri.com/, $400/night. Receive 20% off the best available room rate when you enjoy a Farm+Vine dinner. Call 401/584-7000 for rates and availability.) Get There: Take the three-hour Amtrak ride to Westerly, RI. The resort will send a Mercedes to shuttle you the short drive back and forth; just let them know when you reserve. Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa Sustainable Slumber: Green travelers and the city weary will find this 75-acre refuge on the Hudson River the best place near home to eat good food, reconnect with nature, and just be. You'll start the morning with farm fresh eggs, peach-topped buttermilk pancakes, homemade scones and fair trade coffee. Then you'll stroll a short distance across Swan Pond to visit the heritage chickens, honey bees, angora goats, donkeys, peacocks, and rescued llamas at the Inn's 40-acre organic Millstone Farm. After picking berries and apples in the orchard and eating them above the eponymous waterfall, you'll lie by the pool, looking through floor to ceiling windows that face lush grounds and the Hudson, never feeling more relaxed-and that's before a visit to the spa. Here in Poughkeepsie, you can have your farm and leave it, too. After tennis and a drink by the wood-burning fireplace in your room, you'll head to Henry's Farm to Table for dinner, where you'll smile at the food on your plate, knowing well, perhaps for the first time at a restaurant, just where it came from. (220 North Road, Milton, http://www.buttermilkfallsinn.com, from $300-$400 off peak, $350-$450 peak for two people) Get There: Take the 90-minute Metro-North or Amtrak train ride to Poughkeepsie station. Take a 12-minute Del Ray taxi ride (845/452-1222) to the Inn. offMetro.com promotes a “greener” lifestyle through inspiring day trips and weekend jaunts that are easily accessible via alternative modes of transportation, be it by bike, bus, subway, or boat. Visit offMetro.com for more vacation ideas.