{"id":943,"date":"2025-02-28T17:49:22","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T17:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/adventure\/?p=943"},"modified":"2025-02-28T17:50:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T17:50:47","slug":"the-islands-in-my-life-four-island-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/adventure\/the-islands-in-my-life-four-island-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"The Islands in My Life: Four Island Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Courtesy: Iceland Saga Tours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For many of us, traditional images come to mind at the mention of an exotic island destination: swaying palm trees, crystal clear waters and pristine golden sands. A place where time stands still and all troubles seem to be caressed away by gently blowing tropical trade winds. I recently asked my brother, James, to name his favorite exotic island destination. Without a second\u2019s hesitation he replied, \u201cIceland<\/a>, definitely.<\/em>\u201d \u201cIceland?<\/em>\u201d I exclaimed. \u201cWhy Iceland?<\/em>\u201d His answer was just as certain. \u201cThe remote and windswept island of Iceland is one of the most inhospitable landscapes on the planet, yet it is also the world\u2019s most gorgeous with its sub-Arctic expanse of volcanoes, glaciers, geysers and hot springs. Alongside that brutal beauty comes a sense of coziness and sophistication with multicolored shops, world-class hotels and restaurants, and a vibrant cultural scene. Now that\u2019s exotic.<\/em>\u201d Maybe he\u2019s right. Who says an island has to be tropical to be exotic. So I put on my thinking cap and selected four island destinations that are important to me; and the reasons why. Sure, one does fit the bill as tropical, but after all, I am only human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Outer Hebrides, Scotland – Buying Harris Tweed <\/h2>\n\n\n
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Courtesy: Harris Tweed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nestled off the northwest coast of Scotland<\/a>, the Outer Hebrides<\/a> is a 150 mile-long island chain of remote beaches, rugged bogs, sweeping fields of heather and stone, and Gaelic<\/a> culture. It is also home to Harris Tweed<\/a>. For centuries the islanders have hand-woven this rich cloth, known in Gaelic as Clod Mohr \u2013 The Big Cloth – in their homes. No one else in the world can call tweed \u201cHarris Tweed\u201d unless the pure virgin wool was dyed, spun and finished in the homes of the islanders of Harris. It is refreshing in this modern age of globalization where everything on our backs seems to be made in China to find something so unique and regional. Arriving in little villages, some no larger than twelve or so homes, you will see handmade signs announcing that Harris Tweed is for sale. Knocking on the door of the home weavers and getting a tour of their little work area is an experience I will never forget. It was not a coincidence that my entire family received Harris Tweed scarves that year for Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vancouver Island, Canada – Hiking A Rain Forest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vancouver Island<\/a> is located in British Columbia<\/a> along Canada\u2019s West Coast. It is a region renowned for spectacular coastlines, rolling fields, old-growth rainforests, quaint towns and seemingly unlimited recreational activities. The English-flavored town of Victoria<\/a> is known to many as a romantic weekend getaway, but just a few hours up the road is the town of Sooke<\/a> (pronounced Sook) and East Sooke Regional Park<\/a>. In my opinion the only thing better than hiking in a rain forest is hiking in one that leads to an ocean beach, and that is what you will get on the East Sooke Coast Trail. The park features 3512 acres of natural and protected coastal landscape and is considered one of the premier day hikes in Canada. The trail leads you through a dark, second growth forest of Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock to a protected beach, lined with driftwood and massive boulders. There\u2019s even a little waterfall that cascades onto the beach. This is a west coast wilderness experience unlike any other. The hike takes approximately six-hours roundtrip. Leave early and remember to pack a picnic lunch for the beach. For creature comforts, book a night in one of Sooke\u2019s many accommodations.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Courtesy: District of Sooke.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lofoten Islands, Norway – Eating Lutefisk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Lofoten Islands<\/a>, off the northwest coast of Norway, consist of stunning mountain peaks that seem to come right out of the sea, and sheltered inlets populated with little fishing villages. For centuries, fishing has been the very foundation of life on the islands. Once while on the deck of a vessel outside a Lofoten fishing village, I overheard an American passenger ask a Norwegian what those things were hanging on stilts. The Norwegian replied that it was air-dried cod for making Lutefisk<\/a>. The American exclaimed, \u201cAnd the birds don\u2019t eat it?<\/em>\u201d The Norwegian shrugged, \u201cNo, they don\u2019t seem to like it.<\/em>\u201d Everyone of Scandinavian heritage knows of Lutefisk (pronounced lou-tah-fisk), but few have actually eaten it. Lutefisk is a traditional Nordic food of dried cod or stockfish, prepared in lye. It is soaked in cold water for five to six days (changed daily). It is then soaked in an unchanged solution of cold water and lye for an additional two days. When this treatment is finished, a final treatment of yet another four to six days of soaking in cold water (also changed daily) is needed. Eventually, the lutefisk is ready to be baked in the oven for 40-50 minutes. Some are known to even eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Courtesy: Visit Norway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Dominica – Visiting the Carib Territory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There it was in bold print: “Dominica<\/a> is the only island Columbus would recognize if he returned today.<\/em>\u201d I\u2019m not sure how the author managed to land that quotation, but even from the deck of my arriving vessel, I could see that this tiny island nation of 70,000 was definitely an untouched paradise found. Located in the Eastern Caribbean, Dominica (pronounced Doe-mi-Nee-kah) is blessed with rainforests, undeveloped beaches, cascading waterfalls, small coastal villages and the highest mountain on any of the Caribbean\u2019s Islands. In 1493, Dominica was a stronghold of the Caribs<\/a>, who are today the last indigenous people of the Caribbean. Situated high in the mountains, The Carib Territory<\/a> is a must-see destination in the northeast part of the country. It is also where some of the most spectacular vistas of the island can be found. With a population of 3,500, most of the villagers live in huts that have changed little over the centuries. Unfairly categorized by the first arriving Europeans as cannibals, these are a gentle and shy people. Children would hide behind structures when my small group arrived by van. Young men, who were carving coconuts, offered us fresh coconut milk to drink. Today, income is derived primarily from crafts, fishing and farming. It\u2019s a great place to purchase gifts or souvenirs to help the local economy.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Courtesy: Dominica Tourism<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Courtesy: Iceland Saga Tours For many of us, traditional images come to mind at the mention of an exotic island destination: swaying palm trees, crystal clear waters and pristine golden sands. A place where time stands still and all troubles seem to be caressed away by gently blowing tropical trade winds. I recently asked my …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[392,397,404,402,395,394,19,391,399,400,100,403,393,398,396],"class_list":["post-943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-travel","tag-arctic","tag-british-columbia","tag-carib","tag-dominica","tag-harris-tweed","tag-hebrides","tag-home_page","tag-iceland","tag-lofoten-islands","tag-lutefisk","tag-norway","tag-rainforest","tag-scotland","tag-sooke","tag-vancouver"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Islands in My Life: Four Island Destinations - Traveling Boy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/adventure\/the-islands-in-my-life-four-island-destinations\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Islands in My Life: Four Island Destinations - Traveling Boy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Courtesy: Iceland Saga Tours For many of us, traditional images come to mind at the mention of an exotic island destination: swaying palm trees, crystal clear waters and pristine golden sands. 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