Anne Frank House: 7 Reasons You Should Visit

A visit to the Anne Frank House is a must if you are in Amsterdam. The house is where the young Anne Frank, her family, and four others went into hiding during World War II. Today, you can tour the huis, which was an office with an annex. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, ran his company here. He dealt in products such as pectin, herbs, and spices. The office included a laboratory for experimenting with fruit jams.

When conditions in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam worsened, Otto ushered his family into hiding, using the annex at the back of his warehouse. The area was only about 500 square feet. They went into hiding on June 12, 1942, just a few days after Anne turned 13. They stayed there day and night, week after week, month after month, and year after year until their arrest on August 4, 1944. Imagine a teenager confined to a small, indoor space and having no privacy as she grew into a young woman. In the annex, Anne wrote down her experiences in her diary, not knowing that her words would one day be read around the world.

Here are just a few reasons to follow in Anne’s footsteps through the office, up the stairs, around the secret bookcase door, and into the confines of the Anne Frank House.

Statue of Anne Frank in front of the Anne Frank House. — ItzaVU / Shutterstock

1. You’ll Learn How It’s Possible To Adapt To Change — Even Radical Change

One day the Frank family lived in Amsterdam just as those around them — going to work and school, shopping at the market, riding bikes, laughing with friends. The next day, they hurried into the annex with a few possessions. The door to the outside shut, and they found themselves in a new environment. Another family moved in with them, as well as a single older man.

We know from Anne’s diary that they all came up with a schedule for bathroom use, cooking, and school studies for the children. No one curled up in a ball on the bed and gave up. They certainly had their struggles and frustrations, but they adapted.

These people left an example for us all. Next time I’m faced with an upsetting circumstance, I can choose to adapt and carry on.

Anne Frank's diary on display at the International Book Fair — Anne Frank’s diary (Photo Credit: GUILLERMO LEGARIA/AFP via Getty Images)

2. You’ll Get To See Anne’s Famous Diary

Anne found herself isolated suddenly, away from her girlfriends. At age 13, this must have been especially hard. But we all need friends to confide in, and sometimes that might even be a journal rather than a person. Anne asked for a diary as a gift for her 13th birthday. It’s said that she even helped choose it. She grabbed her new red plaid book as she rushed into hiding.

Eventually, her diary would hold her questions and frustrations and dreams — including her goal to become a writer. Her first entry: “I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support.” Many of her entries are addressed to her imaginary friend, Kitty. No doubt, Kitty and her diary helped Anne through the daily slog of life in the annex.

At the Anne Frank House, the complete surviving manuscript of Anne’s diary is on display.

3. You’ll Hear Inspiring Stories Of How People Risked Their Lives To Help The Franks

There were soon eight people sequestered in the annex, and food and supplies needed to come from outside. Employees from Otto’s business stepped in to help, knowing that they risked their own lives. These helpers did more than just deliver food.

One story involves the annex’s revolving bookcase. The entrance to the annex was simply a door at the beginning. Friends grew concerned that the Germans who occupied the city might come knocking and enter the warehouse. They would certainly go through the door and discover those in hiding. Helpers Victor Kugler and Bep and Johan Voskuijl came up with a plan. They designed and built a revolving bookcase to mask the door. When helpers needed to deliver goods, they would use the lever and swing the bookcase so that they could go through the hidden door.

Two times the Germans entered the warehouse, but missed the annex door. Anne wrote of them rattling the bookcase. She thought her family was “lost.” But the Germans left without discovering the secret.

Inside the Anne Frank House. — GiuseppeCrimeni / Shutterstock

4. You’ll Be Moved By Anne’s Resilience

Nature helped Anne focus on the positive. When you tour the Anne Frank House, you will see firsthand the view that Anne saw from the attic window. The other windows were covered to keep the people inside hidden, and the attic window was the only place where they could see the outside.

Anne wrote that she loved to spend time in the attic, which was used for storage. She could be alone there, and she could gaze out the window. She looked out on a chestnut tree and the sky.

Her window’s view, though limited, helped sustain her spirit. She wrote, “As long as this still exists, and I am allowed to experience it, this sunshine, that sky without a cloud in sight, for as long as that, I cannot be sad.”

5. You’ll See Firsthand That Possessions Are Not What Is Most Important

One memorable item that you’ll see in the annex is Peter’s bicycle. Peter, the son of the other family in the annex, was a few years older than Anne. He brought along the bike, but of course he never took it back out to enjoy a ride. Peter’s parents decided to try to sell the bike, and it is still wrapped up for that purpose. That plan didn’t work out, and the bicycle still sits in its place under the stairway.

So much of what these families owned turned out to be of no use to them in their new lives. The value of a possession can change overnight. Fortunately for us, Anne hung on to her diary, the one possession that would have a lasting impact on the world.

The Amsterdam neighborhood where Anne Frank's House is located. — Harry Beugelink / Shutterstock

6. You Can Easily Imagine Anne’s Life In Amsterdam

After you tour the Anne Frank House, take some time to walk the neighborhood. The canals and bridges, lined with clusters of bicycles, look much the same as they did in the 1940s. With buildings dating back hundreds of years and leafy trees out front, not much has changed. You can easily imagine a young Anne here.

When Anne was four, her family moved from Germany to Amsterdam. This is where she played with her friends, went to school, and attended family gatherings. We know the most about her life in hiding because that’s what she wrote about, but it’s moving to think that she lived a normal life right here on these quaint streets of Amsterdam. How the teenage Anne would have loved to have spent even one day of freedom here!

The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. — Jeff Whyte / Shutterstock

7. You’ll Leave With A Sense Of Hope

When you visit the Anne Frank House, you’ll stand in her bedroom. Her magazine pictures and postcards of movie stars still decorate the walls. The tiny desk where she wrote her diary entries looks like any other teen’s desk. Here she studied French, German, algebra, and history to prepare herself for her adult years. Anne dreamed of a happy life and a bright future, maybe as a writer.

Here, in the small rooms of the annex, you’ll understand more deeply than before what can happen when hate triumphs over kindness and love. It’s one thing to hear statistics of how many died or suffered in World War II; it’s another to be in the house where one family — and one intelligent, emotional young lady — spent the last months of their lives.

But you’ll also experience the hope that insists on showing up even in the darkest of days. Anne wrote, “Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.”

Anne’s father alone survived the war. Anne and her sister died at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp shortly before liberation. Helpers Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl scooped up Anne’s diary and notebook pages after her arrest and kept them safe.

When Otto Frank decided to publish the diary, he wrote, “We cannot change what happened anymore. The only thing we can do is to learn from the past and realize what discrimination and the persecution of innocent people mean.”

Anne’s words live on, reaching from her small hiding place to inspire countless readers. A visit to the Anne Frank House will certainly inspire you and remain on your mind long afterward.

What To Know Before You Go

If you can, purchase tickets before you arrive in Amsterdam, though some may be available on the day of your visit. Check the museum’s website for more information.

Choose a time in the early morning for your visit. People enter in timed groups, but as visitors linger in the annex, it gets more and more congested. If you can be in one of the first few groups, you can see the rooms without fighting the crowds.

To reach the annex, you’ll need to climb a few steep stairs. There’s no wheelchair access, as the annex is configured just as it was when the families hid there.

A museum, gift shop, and cafe occupy the downstairs office area. No photographs are permitted in the Anne Frank House.

The museum website offers an excellent virtual tour of the Anne Frank House along with historical background and information.

For more on Amsterdam, see this page.

San Francisco’s Chinatown: 12 Things To Know Before You Go

The first Chinese immigrants arrived in San Francisco in 1848 aboard the USS Eagle. As the population grew — some 30,000 Chinese came to the city in pursuit of riches during the California Gold Rush — many immigrants established businesses in what became known as Chinatown. Located in the historic heart of San Francisco, the approximately 24-block area is a city within a city that constantly changes to reflect new waves of immigrants and their customs.

The urban area is densely populated. There are approximately 15,000 residents in Chinatown — it’s the second-largest Chinese-American community in the country. On a walking tour with Linda Lee of All About Chinatown, we stopped at Portsmouth Square, where Lee pointed out the clusters of predominantly men gathered together. She said there are more men than women in Chinatown, that the average age is 50, and that they came from China, Hong Kong, or Southeast Asia to Chinatown to live and work.

The culture is rich, and the neighborhood is colorful and beautiful. You’ll see flags and buildings, hear shoppers searching the markets for fresh meat and produce, and smell delicious dishes being prepared in local restaurants.

Here are 12 things to know about San Francisco’s Chinatown before you go.

1. The Chinese Historical Society Of America Museum Is Worth Your Time

The Chinese Historical Society of America Museum is a rich storehouse of Chinese-American history and culture in San Francisco. It’s the oldest organization in the country dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of the social, cultural, and political history and contributions of the Chinese in America.

There were fewer than 250,000 people of Chinese descent living in the U.S. when the society was founded in 1963. Now there are nearly five million Chinese in the U.S., the society continues to preserve the remarkable history of this community by promoting the contributions and legacy of the Chinese through exhibitions, publications, and educational programs.

Visitors to Chinatown can tour the museum and the surrounding area to learn more about the community.

2. The Chinese Culture Center Showcases Contemporary Art

The mission of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, located inside the Hilton across from Portsmouth Square, is to give voice to the Chinese-American community through education and contemporary art. The center shares innovative contemporary art through exhibitions, performances, tours, and online projects; facilitates community engagement at the Him Mark Lai Learning Center, which highlights Chinese-American history and culture; and strives to make Chinatown a museum without walls by using public spaces for festivals and art installations.

Since 1965, the group has hosted hundreds of exhibitions and public events to raise awareness of Chinese culture.

3. The Alleys Are Less Touristy

Step off the main streets of Chinatown to discover the daily life and rich history of this area. Chinatown Alleyway Tours offers guided tours focused on the struggles and triumphs of the Chinese-American community. The youth-run nonprofit program is sponsored by the Adopt-An-Alleyway Youth Empowerment Project by the Chinatown Community Development Center. The tours empower youth to take leadership roles in the community, and tour participants will learn about the history and culture of Chinatown from a local’s perspective.

4. Firecrackers Are Illegal In San Francisco

Traditionally, firecrackers were used to scare away evil spirits in Chinese culture. Legend had it that a monster called Nian would eat villagers and destroy their homes on New Year’s Eve, and the explosive sounds were thought to frighten them.

Since firecrackers are illegal in San Francisco, stores sell Pop Pop boxes that contain small packages you can throw on the floor to make a loud popping noise.

The Dragon's Gate in San Francisco's Chinatown. — Jill Dutton

5. Don’t Miss The Dragon’s Gate

At the southern end of Chinatown along Grant Avenue is Dragon’s Gate, the famous gate designed by the Chinese-American architect Clayton Lee. Erected in 1970, and consisting of stone pillars, green-tiled pagodas, and dragon sculptures, the gate is the only authentic Chinatown gate in the U.S. Guarding the three entryways are three stone lion statues, believed to ward off evil. There is a sign in Chinese hanging over each passage.

6. You Can Watch Fortune Cookies Being Made

The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory has been making fortune cookies since 1962. It’s a small setup, with workers folding messages into cookies by hand and producing about 10,000 cookies each day. Watch as the cookies are created on the line, baked on a cast-iron rotating griddle wheel, and shaped by hand, and then taste one hot off the grill before purchasing bags of flavored cookies to take home.

Herbal remedies in a pharmacy in Chinatown. — Jill Dutton

7. You’ll Discover Ancient Herbal Remedies

Chinese medicine encompasses a variety of healing modalities, including acupuncture, massage, exercise, dietary therapy, and herbal medicine. Step inside one of the herbal pharmacies in Chinatown to learn about the many herbs and tinctures used for healing.

During our walking tour, we learned about unusual medicinal foods such as deer sinew and cockroaches, but the stores stock plenty of more familiar herbal remedies such as ginger, licorice root, and goji berry.

8. You Can Visit One Of The Oldest Taoist Temples In The Country

The Tin How Temple, founded in 1852, was dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu, by the early Chinese migrants to the U.S. Mazu’s formal title is Tin How, which means “Empress of Heaven” in Cantonese. Located on a side street, the temple has a central shrine where a statue of Mazu sits. The room is filled with rows of lanterns donated by devotees. The names of the donors are written on slips of red paper attached to the lanterns.

Old Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco's Chinatown. — jejim / Shutterstock

9. It’s Home To The Oldest Catholic Cathedral In California

The oldest Catholic cathedral in California, the Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral, was constructed in 1854. All of the bricks for this Gothic Revival church were imported from China. Across from the church is Saint Mary’s Square, a public park that has included since its 2017 renovation a 6,000-square-foot rooftop area with a landscaped seating section and an open plaza.

10. You Can Explore An Underground Gallery

Located in the basement of a dry-cleaning establishment is Et al., a 450-square-foot art gallery. Local artists are represented in the monthly exhibitions. The gallery serves as a site for experimental events and was founded in 2013.

11. There’s Something For Every Budget

Budget-conscious travelers should visit street vendors for affordable food options. If you’d like to stay nearby, the Grant Plaza Hotel is conveniently located at the entrance to Chinatown.

If you have more to spend, there are numerous fine-dining options in the area, and the newly renovated Clift Royal Sonesta is a luxe place to stay just a few blocks from Chinatown.

A dragon in a New Year parade in San Francisco's Chinatown. — Jeremy_Ridnor / Shutterstock

12. Visit During Chinese New Year For Extra Fun

To fully experience the culture of Chinatown, visit during the Chinese New Year Festival. The festival runs for two weeks and includes parades, a flower market, and a community fair. It’s one of the largest celebrations of its kind and was named one of the top 10 parades in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association. The Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of only a few remaining night-illuminated parades in North America, and it’s the largest parade celebrating the Chinese New Year outside of Asia.

Pro Tip: Check out my article on the best places to eat in San Francisco’s Chinatown. To learn more, subscribe to Chinatown Scoop, a monthly newsletter with Chinatown-related interviews and articles.

Best Places To Eat In San Francisco’s Chinatown

San Francisco’s Chinatown is not only the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, but it is the oldest Chinatown in North America. From its busy seafood markets to its medicinal herb shops, San Francisco’s Chinatown offers an up-close glimpse at Chinese-American culture and food. There’s no better place to experience Asian-American culture, sample dim sum, sip a Mai Tai, purchase fresh fish and vegetables, or visit a fortune cookie factory.

Here are some of the best places to eat and drink in Chinatown.

All About Chinatown Tours

Start with a food tour to get a feel for the area and try some new dishes. You can easily become overwhelmed by all the options, and a tour guide can give you an idea of where you should return for a full meal — and what you ought to order, since many of the menus are not in English.

Consider following along as Linda Lee of All About Chinatown takes you through the streets of Chinatown to sample delicious bites. Lee has offered tours since 1983 and knows the streets, the people, and the food. As you walk, you’ll learn about the history of the Chinese restaurants and how they became popular with Gold Rush miners as well as wealthy San Franciscans looking for exotic meals. Lee helps to demystify China’s regional cuisines and discusses each area’s distinct style of cooking — Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hunanese, Northern, and Halal.

China Live

In 2018, Time named China Live one of the world’s greatest places. It’s easy to see why. This 30,000-square-foot culinary destination offers shopping and dining on two floors.

On the ground floor, sip a cup of Chinese tea at Oolong Cafe; visit the marketplace to purchase spices, teas, condiments, and cookware; or view the charcuterie and oven station, the dumpling station, and a dessert bar.

On the second floor, enjoy a fine-dining experience at Eight Tables Restaurant, where you can sample a tasting menu for $225, a chef’s menu for $325, or a seven-course menu for $175. Also on the second floor, you can enjoy craft cocktails such as the Shengliang Highball or Kung Pao Kitty at Bar Central.

Dim Sum Spots

The words dim sum literally mean “to touch lightly your heart,” but also “to barely fill your stomach.” It’s an apt description, as a dim sum meal consists of bite-sized portions of steamed dumplings and other fried foods. At one of Chinatown’s dim sum spots, you’ll enjoy small plates of steamed buns, rice noodle rolls, and dumplings filled with everything from pork to prawn to chicken to vegetables. Dim sum is a great way to sample a variety of Chinese dishes.

Many restaurants in Chinatown serve dim sum, but a few of my favorites are Great Eastern, which serves up Hong Kong-style dim sum plus fresh seafood; City View, which offers dim sum cuisine in an upscale, contemporary setting; and Oriental Pearl, which has been in business since 1992.

Hakkasan

This international chain Hakkasan draws inspiration from all over the world. The menu selections are traditional Chinese dishes prepared from local and seasonal ingredients. Every location has signature dishes only available at Hakkasan as well as items created exclusively for that particular location.

One of the newer locations is in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Try the Crispy Culver Farms duck salad with ruby grapefruit, pine nuts, and pomegranate, or the aubergine, tofu, and mushroom claypot served with chili and black bean sauce. The truffle-braised noodle is rich and savory, served with crabmeat and scallops.

Capital Restaurant

Locals often lunch at Capital Restaurant. It’s in an unassuming location, but you can get a great meal for a reasonable price. The famous salt-and-pepper chicken wings are considered the best in town, and the black pepper vinegar that’s available at the tables is also a hit. You might want to order an extra meal for your party, however, since the portions can be small.

Li Po Cocktail Lounge

You absolutely must sip an authentic Mai Tai at a lounge in Chinatown. The Mai Tai was invented in nearby Oakland, California, and originally consisted of aged Jamaican rum, fresh lime, a splash of orange curacao, simple syrup, and orgeat (a syrup made from almonds and a little orange flower or rose water).

Anthony Bourdain visited Li Po Cocktail Lounge in 2012, so you know it’s a good one. Li Po is a dive bar where locals and tourists alike hang out — it’s been voted the best dive bar in San Francisco for two years. Li Po’s take on the Mai Tai consists of three types of rum, a Chinese liqueur, and pineapple juice.

A market in San Francisco's Chinatown. — Jill Dutton

Chinese Markets

There are two main streets in Chinatown: Stockton Street and Grant Avenue. Between those two main streets are alleys and side streets filled with unique offerings like medicinal herb shops. On Stockton Street, you’ll find many authentic grocers and markets where the locals shop. Stroll in to one of them and choose from a variety of produce, plus live seafood, roasted birds, and dried seafood. Stockton Street is the heart of Chinatown, and you’ll find many places where you can purchase authentic Chinese food.

Tea Shops

At Vital Tea Leaf, you can learn about the art of crafting Chinese tea and the health benefits of drinking it. Shop the large selection of green, black, and herbal teas; sample a few new blends; and take home some tea to remind you of your visit. Tisanes are flower and herbal infusions not made from the tea bush. They include fruits, herbs, roots, and spices. You can purchase tisanes to infuse alone, or combine them with other flowers and herbs to create a specialty fusion.

Red Blossom Tea Company sells artisanal loose-leaf teas and teaware that you can use to recreate your experience at home. Some of the rare teas they offer include aged tung ting, wild guava leaves, and others.

Aroma Tea Shop offers more loose teas as well as one-of-a-kind accessories such as a double glass Kung Fu travel tea bottle with a filter to prepare your tea on the go.

Or sit down for a glass of bubble tea at Steap Tea Bar, where you’ll find bubble-tea inspired drinks made from premium loose-leaf and organic teas and served with local, organic milks and sugars and fresh organic produce. Their boba (tapioca starch pearls) and toppings are made in-house daily.

Fortune cookie making at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in Chinatown, San Francisco
Photo credit: Pat Chuturbhuti / Shutterstock.com

Chinese Bakeries

End your dining tour of Chinatown with a sweet treat from one of the many bakeries.

You’ll find fortune cookies at many area bakeries, but you can purchase a freshly made bag straight from the factory at Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, which has been hand-making fortune cookies since 1962.

In addition to traditional fortune cookies, Mee Mee Bakery sells chocolate- and strawberry-flavored cookies as well as breads, cakes, and pastries. Mooncakes are a Chinese delicacy traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The mooncakes at Mee Mee Bakery come in a variety of flavors, including date, pineapple, black bean, and green tea, among others.

Locals line up for the custard tarts and other baked goods at Golden Gate Bakery. You’ll find lines at Good Mong Kok Bakery as well, but it’s worth the wait for the takeout dim sum and freshly baked breads.

Bonus: The Wok Shop

After tasting some authentic Chinese food, you might want to take home some cooking gadgets to help you recreate your experience at home. The Wok Shop sells cleavers, woks, crockware, steamers, teapots, and anything else you might need to prepare authentic Chinese cuisine. The specialty utensils such as the brass skimmers and oil pots will bring authenticity to your home-cooked Chinese meals. Chinatown restaurant owners shop here to acquire the best cooking utensils for their businesses.

Stunning Hikes In The North Fork Area Of Glacier National Park (And Why You Should Visit)

The North Fork of Glacier National Park is a hidden gem with great hiking, spectacular views, plenty of wildlife, and a quirky store called Polebridge Mercantile.

The North Fork is a 40-mile drive from the west entrance to the park. The first 11 miles are paved, but the remainder of the drive is rough and rocky. If you go, be sure to know how to change a flat tire.

The challenging road is a main reason so few people visit the region.

On the way to the stunning lakes, it’s almost a requirement to stop at the old-fashioned Polebridge Mercantile. The place was built in 1914, just four years after the park was created. Bill Adair built the general store, which catered to the 150 or so families in the Flathead River valley.

Polebridge Mercantile store, the historic bakery and general store near Glacier National Park — melissamn / Shutterstock.com

Today, it’s a must-stop for those visiting the region. The store is noted for its incredible huckleberry bear claws. They are always baking them, so the chance of biting into one steaming from the oven is very high. The store is full of touristy things, like ball caps and refrigerator magnets. But it’s also a general store, serving the community of farmers, ranchers, and campers.

The mercantile also has some cabins to rent. They are rustic and there’s no running water in them. They are popular and reservations are a must.

Next door to the mercantile is the only restaurant for miles around, The Northern Lights Saloon. And you are north here, just about 20 miles from the Canadian border. However, you can’t drive easily to Canada since the closest border crossing has been closed for several years. The next closest is a two-plus hour drive.

After fortifying yourself at the mercantile with baked goods, leave time enough to burn off those calories. There’s spectacular hiking in the North Fork area. The roads are rocky and narrow but navigable. A vehicle with a high clearance is best, so leave your Corvette in the garage!

Bowman Lake in Glacier National Park. — Ed Daniel

Bowman Lake To Numa Ridge

Leave Polebridge and head northeast to Bowman Lake. It’s just a 7.5-mile drive, but it’ll take all of 30 minutes to get there. You’ll be driving along the Inside North Fork Road. About halfway to the lake, you’ll come to the Polebridge entrance station. Here’s where you may learn that there’s no parking available at Bowman Lake. Heed the advice of the ranger. If there is parking, and there should be earlier in the day (and the season), you’ll be heading to Numa Ridge.

It’s a great little hike that takes you to a fire lookout tower, and with luck, there will be a person working there. Often, the fire watchers are happy to give a tour of their workspace, which doubles as their living space. It’s a sparse existence, but watchers I’ve met over the years wouldn’t give up the experience for love or money. If the tower stairs are blocked with a chain, don’t visit.

The hike starts to the left of Bowman Lake parking lot and it’s clearly marked. As you get going, you’ll see a house to your left and in the lake, on the left, a boat. This house is the ranger’s residence. If he/she is in the yard, they’ll often be willing to talk about the area and give you any updates on hikes in the area. Do not enter the property. Remember, this is someone’s home.

Mount Cater in Glacier National Park. — Ed Daniel

The walk to the tower is along Bowman Lake, along a ridgeline, and it’s a moderately strenuous walk, just about 11 miles long roundtrip. The elevation gain is about 3,000 feet. The stroll is in forest most of the way, so the views are limited to peeks of Bowman Lake. After about five miles, you come up the ridge and the views improve considerably. Then it’s a short walk to the tower.

Even if the tower is closed, there are great views from the top of the ridge, especially of Mount Carter across Bowman Lake. Carter is one of the tallest peaks in Glacier, at 9,800 feet.

Quartz Lake Loop

This hike gains about 1,500 feet in elevation, but it takes you up and down, with an 1,100-foot elevation loss. The moderately difficult hike has a lot to offer: views of the Quartz Lakes, a stroll through a forest burned in 1988, which is giving way from fireweed to young lodgepole pine trees, and views of mountains in the Livingston Range.

This hike is almost 13 miles long, so you need to get an early start and bring plenty of water, but it’s a loop, so you end up where you started and you don’t see the same thing twice. The hike starts opposite where the hike to Numa Ridge begins, on the south side of the parking area.

When you get to a fork in the trail, just past Bowman Creek, which drains the lake, go left and you’ll enjoy an easier walk. A right takes you along a much steeper path. Trust me: Go left. The trail rises to the top of Cerulean Ridge and then down into the Quartz Lake drainage. It’s lowlands and drops to a campground at the foot of Quartz Lake.

The trail follows Quartz Creek, and you climb back up through a burn area that is teeming with new life: grasses, fireweed, and, if you are lucky, bear grass. Bear grass isn’t a grass but a member of the lily family. The flowers are in a bunch at the top of a stalk.

Logging Lake

This stroll is relatively easy and covers just about 8.5 miles round trip. You follow Logging Creek and eventually walk along the lake itself. The elevation gain is less than 500 feet, so it is not at all difficult. The views are limited until you get to the lake itself, and then the vistas open up.

The trail takes you through several burn areas, and while they look devastated, realize the National Park Service says fire is a natural part of the forest landscape. The park is regenerating thanks to fire. The larger burn area is the result of the 2001 Moose Fire, and the smaller burn happened in 1994.

There’s a greater diversity of flora growing in the burn areas and they will eventually become a forest. The first plant that colonizes after a burn is fireweed, which holds the soil for the other plants to get going. The first tree to move in is the lodgepole pine. The tree has a cone that is sealed with a thick resin. The only time the cone opens is when there’s a fire and it tosses seeds everywhere. You multiply all those seeds by all those cones and all those trees, and in 20 years or so, you get a brand new forest. That’s what’s happening in all the burn areas.

A moose in Glacier National Park. — Ed Daniel

You can stop at the foot of Logging Lake and look for eagles in the air. They nest at the head of the lake and take their young on far-ranging fishing expeditions. You can keep walking along the lake and keep your ear tuned for the sound of loons. There’s lots of wildlife along the trail in the valley. Look for deer, moose, and squirrels. The word is that mountain lions inhabit the area, which is not busy with hikers, but the word on lions from rangers is that you never see them until they are jumping on your back.

This part of the park is one of the least visited and has limited services, so bring plenty of water and patience, as the roads can be harrowing if you confront another motorist coming in the opposite direction.

Fortunately, that’s never a problem on the hiking trails.

Want more? Read up on the best hikes in Glacier National Park.

5 Easy-To-Grow Plants With International Flavors

During World War II, victory gardens were all the rage. Personal lawns and public lands were dug up to grow crops for home use and to feed the troops. In fact, some of America’s most famous public spaces, like the Boston Common, were used to plant crops.

Today, talk of victory gardens is back! As passionate travelers are putting their plans on hold and looking to be more self-sufficient during the COVID-19 health crisis, personal gardens are gaining popularity. Thankfully, a personal garden doesn’t require a massive commitment to be successful and fruitful. And when you’re inspired by some of your favorite flavors from around the world, it’s even more fun.

Here are some easy plants to inspire your summer garden plans and future menus.

Radishes for sale at a market stall in France. — timsimages.uk / Shutterstock

1. Radishes — France

Radishes are simply rad. They’re the instant gratification item of the garden world — they can take as little as 25 days to go from seed to salad! Even better, if you’re impatient, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s no advantage to keeping them in the ground longer. Mature radishes tend to be woody and sharp tasting.

I have to admit that I was never a fan of sliced radishes in a salad. But eating radishes in the French style is enormously more appealing. There are two hugely popular variations of the radish-based lunch in France.

One is to simply grate the radishes with a box-style cheese grater and sponge off any excess moisture. Mix the shredded radishes with butter and slather the mixture on a fresh baguette with a pinch of salt and pepper, and add a soup or salad on the side.

An even simpler variation involves using the whole radish itself to spoon up globs of softened butter, sprinkling a bit of salt on top, and eating the radish whole — of course, with some yummy bread on the side.

Radishes are also divine when they’re roasted in the oven, much like a small potato, or tucked underneath a roasting chicken so they can sizzle in the drippings. Their flavor mellows considerably. Top the soft, creamy roasted radishes with a dash of aged balsamic vinegar, some fresh Parmesan cheese, or — the most French of all — more butter.

Bell peppers for sale at a market stall in Australia. — Anak Surasarang / Shutterstock

2. Bell Peppers — Australia

While Australia is famous for its grilled meat, bell peppers are also a big part of the country’s culinary repertoire.

Bell peppers rubbed with olive oil, salt, and pepper are amazing when barbecued and served alongside roasted lamb or grilled burgers topped with local favorites like pineapple, sliced beetroot, and fried eggs. They’re also perfect in a vegan kebab or tossed with grilled zucchini, eggplant, red onion, avocado, a touch of lemon juice, and olive oil as a hearty chunky vegetable salad.

Bell peppers are easy to grow, but they do love sunshine — ideally 6 to 8 hours a day. They don’t tolerate frost, and they usually take a minimum of 100 days to develop. No wonder they thrive in Australian gardens! But if you have warm weather, you can grow a wide variety of bells. Chocolate Beauty and Purple Beauty have striking shades that live up to their colorful names.

A plate of bean sprouts from Thailand. — Piyada Machathikun / Shutterstock

3. Bean Sprouts — Thailand

Thailand offers so much incredible produce, from tiny, fiery chilis to juicy mangoes. But for the low-key gardener, nothing is so easy and so gratifying as bean sprouts — you can use them to top pad Thai, fill spring rolls and wraps, and heap on fresh salads. You don’t even need any outdoor space at all!

Bean sprouts, along with other kinds of sprouts, can be ready to eat in as little as five days — really! You can grow them in a mason jar, and they don’t require any special care. You can read up on how to create your own kitchen mason jar garden here.

Ultra-healthy bean sprouts are terrific in Thai dishes like stir-fried bean sprouts with tofu and garlic chives and classic pad Thai.

Butternut squash from Zimbabwe. — Svitlana Pimenov / Shutterstock

4. Butternut Squash — Zimbabwe

Hearty, easy-to-grow, and long-lasting squash varieties can be found all over the world, but when I think of the crowd-pleasing butternut squash, I think of Zimbabwe. Roasted butternut soup is a popular first course at a number of restaurants, like the hugely popular Boma dinner show in Victoria Falls. Cubes of butternut are also tucked into stews and curries. You’ll find them in platters of roasted vegetables, in baked cups filled with ground meat and topped with melted cheese, and in nhopi, a creamy, sweet, buttery mash made with a hint of peanut butter.

Butternut squash are easy to grow but delicate in their early days — make sure there’s no risk of frost after you put them in the ground. They thrive with plenty of fertilizer, and some people even toss their seeds directly into their compost pile for maximum growth. If stored in a cool, dry place, they’ll last up to three months.

Ripe tomatoes growing in Italy. — Frank L Junior / Shutterstock

5. Tomatoes — Italy

If you’re new to gardening, tomatoes are extremely user friendly and are the backbone of recipes all around the world, from Mexico to Malawi. But no one does tomatoes quite like Italy.

I always plant two kinds of tomatoes: a large beefsteak-style tomato, perfect for toasted tomato sandwiches and topping burgers, and a small cherry or grape tomato that produces huge bunches of fruit perfect for salads. Both are great in Italian tomato sauce or bruschetta.

During my time in Rome, I learned that the secret to a beautiful bruschetta is giving the flavors time to meld. Mix together a bowl of chopped tomatoes, some shredded basil leaves, a sprinkling of sea salt, and some quality olive oil, and let it sit while you prepare the rest of your dinner. When it’s ready to serve, toast some bread and lightly rub each slice with a clove of garlic and give it a brush of olive oil. At the very last minute, top the bread with the tomato mixture.

Another super-simple Italian recipe for the beginner gardener is a batch of old-fashioned tomato Pomodoro sauce. In Italy, tomato sauce is minimalist in nature and is the embodiment of clean, simple cooking. Let finely chopped onions simmer in a sturdy pan that you’ve coated with a generous layer of quality olive oil. After a few moments, add a bowl of peeled, squashed tomatoes. After 10 to 20 minutes, add some torn basil, a pinch of salt, pepper, dried oregano, and maybe a garlic clove to infuse a little extra flavor as the sauce cools.

Tomatoes will thrive in any sunny spot, from a tiny apartment balcony to a corner of your backyard. They only require a big drink of water a couple of times a week. And if they’re particularly large and gangly, they’ll need some support for their heavy stems — you can lash them to your porch railing or stick a tall, sturdy stick in their pot and secure them with some yarn.

Be Bold!

In my garden this summer, I’m testing my skills and branching out. I’m planting kohlrabi in honor of my time in Prague, where I discovered the joy of putting thin, crispy slices on buttered rye bread. I’m also planting jalapenos so that I can finally replicate the amazing salsa I tried outside Zion National Park. Finally, I’m creating a bed for parsnips so that I can prepare the perfect pan of roasted vegetables that I had in Scotland.

So be bold! Gardening is part research, part trial and error, and part luck. Anyone can do it.

Where To Buy Your Seeds

Heritage Harvest Seed offers more than 800 varieties of rare heirloom seeds from all over the world.

With a mission to save heirloom seeds from around the world, Seed Savers Exchange sells funky international varieties sure to inspire your next gardening project.

Renee’s Garden Seeds, a garden-to-table seed company, serves home gardeners and provides high-performing seeds.

How To Spend A Perfect Weekend On Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Salt Spring Island is the largest of the southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. It lies in the Strait of Georgia in between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

Salt Spring Island is the absolute perfect place to spend a weekend if you are looking to relax, get close to the natural world, and step back in time to when life seemed a bit simpler. Towering pine trees, salty fresh air, and craggy coastlines will have you breathing easily all weekend long. Local organic produce and the thriving art scene will add another layer of magic to this island getaway.

A ferry in the waters of Salt Spring Island. — Roxana Gonzalez / Shutterstock

Getting To Salt Spring Island

There are three towns with ferry terminals on Salt Spring Island: Fulford Harbour, Vesuvius, and Long Harbour. It is important to plan where you are sailing from and where you will arrive.

Pro Tip: To plan your perfect weekend on Salt Spring Island, check out the BCFerries schedule. It is highly recommended to make a ferry reservation online, especially during the summer months. Also, be sure to arrive at the ferry terminal well in advance of the scheduled crossing.

From Vancouver’s Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal

There is no direct ferry from Tsawwassen to Salt Spring Island. Travel first to Victoria’s Swartz Bay Terminal and then transfer ferries to arrive at Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island. This journey will take about two hours and 30 minutes.

From Victoria’s Swartz Bay Terminal

The ferry arrives at Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island. The crossing is 35 minutes and runs regularly.

From Crofton On Vancouver Island

Ferries run between Crofton and Vesuvius (on the north end of Salt Spring Island). The crossing takes 25 minutes.

From Smaller Gulf Islands

Ferries travel from Pender, Galiano, and Mayne islands arriving at Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island.

Pro Tip: Having a car on Salt Spring Island is the ideal way to enjoy your weekend. With a car, you can enjoy the entire island in a weekend. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from one end of Salt Spring Island to the other. The hilly roads are mostly paved.

Boats in the marina in Ganges on Salt Spring Island. — Todamo / Shutterstock

Stroll Through Ganges

Plan on spending at least a few hours wandering Ganges, the main town on Salt Spring Island. It is the perfect place to browse through unique art galleries and boutiques, to book a whale watching or kayaking tour, and to stock up on groceries and other necessities. Watching the boats in the harbor is a relaxing way to sink into this perfect weekend getaway.

Views from Ruckle Provincial Park on Salt Spring Island. — pr2is / Shutterstock

Explore Ruckle Provincial Park

The shoreline of Ruckle Provincial Park invites you to be present and soak up the incredible natural beauty of this island. Sit on a craggy outcrop and watch the sailboats and ferries pass by on Swanson Channel. Explore tide pools looking for starfish, crabs, and other delights of the sea world. You might have a little luck and spot sea lions and whales. You just never know!

Bring a picnic or pitch a tent on one of the walk-in campsites.

When you first enter the park, you pass by old farmhouses, outbuildings, sheep, and chickens. The park is a preserved British Columbia homestead that was first settled by Henry Ruckle, an Irish immigrant, in 1872. The farmland is still in use by descendants of his family.

Indulge In Tasty Delights At Salt Spring Island Cheese Company

The goal of the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company says it all: “to make the best tasting and looking cheese you will find from one of the most beautiful islands in the world.”

This family-run business creates stunning goat cheeses with exquisite flavors ranging from chilli to tapenade to truffle. Stop into their farm shop and taste the various goat cheeses. Chutneys and crackers are available to purchase in addition to the incredible cheese.

Visit during the summer season and have a meal at the cafe. Be sure to indulge in the outstanding gelato made with the same goat milk as is used in the cheese.

Go Whale Watching

On this perfect weekend on Salt Spring Island, it is a must to get out on the water. Looking for whales and other marine wildlife is always an exciting way to spend part of a day. Salt Spring Adventure Co. Ltd. hosts whale watching and marine wildlife sightseeing tours with morning and afternoon departures from Ganges Harbour between March and October with daily whale sightings expected between June and September.

Kayaking on Salt Spring Island. — Mark Jennings-bates / Shutterstock.com

Kayak The Ocean Waters Of Salt Spring Island

Kayaking is another way to enhance your experience on the waters of Salt Spring Island. Salt Spring Adventure Co. Ltd. offers a variety of tours that leave from Ganges Harbour and are sure to please outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels, even those who have never paddled before.

A dock on St. Mary Lake in Salt Spring Island. — Muriel Lasure / Shutterstock

Take A Refreshing Dip In A Freshwater Lake

Salt Spring Island is, of course, surrounded by salty water, but it is a delightful summer treat to take a dip in one the five freshwater lakes on the island. Take your pick from St. Mary Lake, Cusheon Lake, Blackburn Lake, Stowell Lake, and Weston Lake. There are public-access points at all the lakes.

Find Unique Gifts At The Ganges Saturday Market

They don’t call Salt Spring Island Canada’s Island of the Arts for nothing! The Saturday market in Ganges (April through October from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is bursting with local artisans and food producers. Everything sold at the market is created and produced locally and, as Salt Spring Island is a hotbed for creatives, you will love perusing the stands of potters, jewelers, woodworkers, and a myriad of other artists.

You’ll be sure to find some unique gifts here and some delicious goodies for a weekend picnic.

Where To Eat And Drink

Salt Spring Wild Cider

Salt Spring Wild’s ciders are created with 100 percent local, organic ingredients. Did someone say elderberry elderflower cider or bitter orange rosemary cider? My favorite is the semi-dry cider made from handpicked Salt Spring apples.

Drop by the farm, take a tour, or head straight to the tasting room to sample a variety of ciders along with farm-style tapas. If you’re a cider lover, you won’t walk away empty-handed!

Seafood

Let’s just say that Salt Spring Island is the perfect place to indulge in seafood delights. Take your pick from fresh halibut, mussels, or Dungeness crab, and your taste buds will be singing! Ganges is where you will find the most restaurants to choose from.

Rock Salt Restaurant And Cafe

If you arrive in Fulford Harbour, stop by the Rock Salt Restaurant and Cafe for a coffee and snack or a meal. Their dining room has a 180-degree ocean view, but my preference is to sit at a table on the terrace overlooking the boats and breathe in the fresh salty air. Alternately, as you leave Salt Spring Island and line up for the ferry, pop into the Rock Salt Restaurant and Cafe and pick up some snacks to eat on the ferry.

Stowel Lake Farm’s Organic Farm Stand

When I visited this delightful farm stand on Reynolds Road (very close to the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company), the entire experience was based on the honor system. The roadside gate to the farm stand swung open, we gathered delicious produce, weighed it, and left our money on the counter. Can you step back in time with more authenticity than that?

Salt Spring Mercantile

If you are looking for picnic items or wanting to stock up for your Airbnb, look no further than the Salt Spring Mercantile in Fulford Harbour. It is an old-style general store full of groceries and local, homemade delights.

Sunset views from Salt Spring Island. — Cultura Motion / Shutterstock

Where To Stay On Salt Spring Island

My first tip is to book early. Salt Spring Island is a popular destination, especially in the summer season. Salt Spring Island has a wide variety of accommodation including cabins, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. Perhaps you prefer an ocean view or a little cabin in an old-growth forest. Whatever your preference, you should be able to find a little piece of paradise to make this weekend absolutely perfect!

Pro Tip: Salt Spring Island is a blackberry lover’s treasure trove in August. Bring your gloves (the bushes are rather prickly) and overfill your pail with juicy fresh berries.

Enjoy your perfect weekend on Salt Spring Island; you are sure to leave feeling rejuvenated.

Coming from or going to Vancouver? Be sure to see these 11 amazing hidden gems in Vancouver, Canada, before or after your Salt Spring Island weekend.