Go back in time to the land of Samurai and
the shogun at the Edo
Virtual Tour. Edo is the name for Tokyo, Japan, and it
represents the essence of "traditional" Japanese
culture. The orients awaits at http://www.us-japan.org/edomatsu/
where you'll enjoy the best in Edo fashion, culture and cuisine. Wandering
around this fair city you'll enjoy the eclectic neighborhoods and friendly
people that made
Edo that made Edo a international destination. Plus, you can
sneak a peak at some of Japan's finest art inside the Emperor's gallery.
Between castles and sword fights, you will have an Asian adventure like never
before. Tokyo may be a mega-city to the world, but its spirit of Edo still
lives on.
Mexico is an enchanted land complete with
great scenery, endless culture and plenty of sunshine. Now it's yours to experience
online. http://explora.presidencia.gob.mx/index_kids.html
and join Balero and his friends as they take you on a tour of this beautiful
country. You can learn about Mexico's government and its architecture -
from Aztec pyramids to the skyscrapers of Mexico City. For history buffs, the
timeline will take you back to the days of the Mayan civilization right up to
the drive for independence and today's contemporary Mexico. A games
gallery features a puzzle, and instruction on how to make recycled paper.
Don't forget to download your favorite Mexican songs. Viva Mexico!
If you are one of the many people visiting American's national
parks this Labor Day weekend, check out the info-rich National Parks World Wide
Web homepage at http://www.nps.gov/ Gov
all the dirt on the park you'll be exploring, including a list of facilities and
information on reservations and fees. Even if you're staying home this
weekend, you'll enjoy seeing the latest story in Links to the Past, featuring,
the history and folk lore surrounding one of the nation's parks. From the
National Parks there are links to things wild and wonderful, so even if you
never step outside, you can enjoy a Labor Day, journey through North America.
Gas up the Jeep and put some film in your camera-it's safari time! Run like a cheetah to The Living Africa site at http://hyperion.advanced.org/16645/ This huge continent is home to a variety of cultures, landscapes and wildlife. Wander around from Morocco to Mount Kilimanjaro, and you'll constantly discover something new. Meet the many ethnic groups who inhabit Africa, such as the Bantu and the Mandling. This continent has thousands of countries, hundreds of languages, and tons of different customs to learn about. See the longest river and the largest desert in the world, and study up on all your favorite animals in the wildlife section. Now that you are feeling ready, play the wildlife conservation game. Here you will fly all over the continent, document all the wildlife you see, and do your part to help preserve the living Africa.
If you think pyramids exist only in Egypt, then grab your boots and head south of the border. Inspiring photographs of ancient ruins, tropical jungles and pristine lakes await you in Thresholds at http://www.thresholds.net You can almost hear the exotic sounds of the jungle's parrots and monkeys as you click through the rivers and roads of backwoods Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Be sure not to miss the author's hair-raising tale that will take you through a long series of glittering cascades coursing over miles of verdant valleys in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains. Take in the scenery and enjoy the adventure!
Pull on a
parka, a pair of rubber boots and a spirit of adventure. It's time for a
cyber voyage to Antarctica. OK, it's not the kind of trip with sunny
beaches ad amusement parks, but it's an amazingly icy adventure you won't
forget. You'll soon understand why people have been magnetically drawn to
the South Pole. Haul your gear to http://www.terraquest.com/antarctica/index.html
to board the ship in Argentina and let the journey begin. Your shipmates
are really friendly, and they'll help you make the daily voyages through the
rough seas and into the eye of the storm. Try to spy some whales along the
way, too. Learn about old-time explorers in the great race to find the
South Pole, and discover why Antarctica is so important for keeping track of the
Earth's environment today. (And find out why you must have rubber boots to
go to Antarctica.) It's a harsh, but wonderful journey, and you'll join in the
celebration when you finally get to shore with hundreds of penguins to greet
you.
As one of the largest protected shorelines in the world,
Monterey Bay is truly
a
natural wonder to behold. Thanks to National Geographic, you now have the
opportunity to discover this explosion of life for yourself. Dive in at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/monterey/
and immerse yourself in a world of seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises and more.
Site-see at the bottom of the ocean in a submersible exploration vehicle.
Keep an eye out for exotic species of fish. Or dive through the Monterey
Canyon, where you'll plunge miles below sea level into a mysterious abyss.
Best of all, the site lets you come face-to-face with the bay's amazing animals,
including the jack mackerel, the herring gull, harbor seals and sea otters.
And if you're looking for more, check out great links to the Monterey Bay
Aquarium, National Geographic's Sustainable Seas Expeditions and more.
The
Galapagos Islands, a group of Pacific islands lying along the equator, are the
home to volcanoes, rainforests, giant tortoises, land lizards and even penguins!
All of the wildlife and adventure awaiting along the equator can be found on the
Web at Virtual Galapagos. Catch a wave out to http://www.terraquest.com/galapagos/
where you'll experience breathtaking views and check out interactive maps. Here,
you can join the Terra Quest Team on their island expedition. Go back in time
with pirates and conquistadores, or watch the dolphins and whales at play along
the Galapagos coast. The politically active have the chance to join
environmentalists and animal activists as they explore ways of saving the
endangered species and rainforests of the land. Be prepared for an island
adventure like no other. The Galapagos are a riot of color and excitement.

Hike with a team of young explorers as they journey through the Americas climbing each nation's highest peaks. From their Web sites here survey the colorful journal entries and view the photo albums of the various treks. Discover what the explorers are eating to stay pumped up, the type of wildlife, insects and hazards they encounter, and what they do to prepare for the climbs. Ask your own questions, too, by sending e-mail to the 23 Peaks Expedition team. Put on your hiking boots, grab your walking stick and go!
Nicolas, Mathieu and Lucas Laffitte are
sailing the Pacific for two years and you can go along via the WWW. Sail here
where you can cruise the boy's latest adventures in their log, sign up for their
e-mail list, and talk to them through e-mail. These brothers will inspire
all you adventurers to do your own on-line exploring.
Beneath
the bustling streets of New York City lies a world that most folks don't
even realize exists. Power lines, cables, subway tunnels and water all
make up part of this subterranean mix. At National Geographic's New
York Underground, you'll be lowered down into the depths of this urban jungle.
Look down the manhole at Underground
and take a multimedia tour through a maze of secret passages, forgotten
pipelines and age-old geology. With audio clips and animation, you'll
uncover the many myths and legends here. Did you know that a 125 pound
alligator was once pulled from a New York sewer? And don't forget to drop
in on Tunnel No. 3- 70 stories below daylight.
Every
year, many students take the opportunity to study\ outside of their native
country. On the Images of Kiev site, http://www.well.com/user/vanya/kiev.html
you can share the experiences of an American student who studied in the Ukraine.
You'll feel as if you are listening to a tour guide as you take in the local
sights of this beautiful eastern city.
One of the great cities of Europe, Belgrade is a place that
transcends time and politics. The
capital of Yugoslavia is an exciting city, full of history and culture. The
official Belgrade Web site offers everything from weather reports to outstanding
architecture. Head due east to http://www.beograd.org.yu/
to visit with the Yugoslav people and their dynamic home. Walk the city's
streets, which are alive with age-old monuments, statues and fountains. The site
takes you through several of Belgrade's 22 museums, as well as the 130-yr-old
National Theatre. Next, swing by the Belgrade Zoo. Don't forget to indulge in
"Krsn slava", the Serbian Orthodox family feast. There are also news
features, audio and video clips, and cool photos. And if you're planning a trip
here, this site has information on sporting and cultural events, as well as
hotels and restaurants. Tradition and sophistication await you in Belgrade.
From
the Pyramids of Giza to the earliest tombs and cemeteries, the world of ancient
Egypt is both fascinating and mystical. Egypt World, the ultimate online museum
dedicated to this period in history, is an oasis of facts, fun and photos. Get
mummy's permission and adventure out to http://library.advanced.org/15924/
The main museum will show you the best in Egyptian paintings and sculptures, the
first burial grounds for pharaohs and the hieroglyphics found there. You'll go
on excavations with archaeologists from
around the world as they discover such treasures as the Rosetta Stone. You'll
find a complete chronicling of pyramid history, plus the lowdown on the Sphinx,
the Pyramid Mystery and the Last Pyramids. Stop by Pharaoh's Arcade, where
you'll become a pharaoh, building cities and competing with your friends online.
Tempted to spend more time learning about Egypt history? The Tourist Center will
direct you to ancient Egypt museums around the world. Found out why the spirit
of ancient Egypt lives on!

At Uncle Ben's Kitchen, there's a recipe for every budding chef, plus an online nutritional analyzer. Bring your apron and appetite to http://www.unclebens.com/ca/ and learn how to turn your kitchen into a 4-star restaurant. Check out the recipes at the Interactive Cookbook, from the Hawaiian pork stir fry to Santa Fe Chicken' n' Rice. The TV dinner crowd will love the sections on cooking tips and quick meals, while those with a passion for zest and zip will savor the tastes of the herbs and spices guide. Worried about how these great eats will affect your waistline? The Nutri-Test allows you to analyze your exercise regime and eating habits. Read all about Rice Facts to find out more about the world's oldest crop. Getting hungry yet?
Book passage to one of the worlds most intriguing countries:
India
!
Just pack that cyber trunk and haul it over to http://history.evansville.net/india.html
for a journey through hundreds of years of Indian history. India is a
country and variety, from tropical groves to the snowy mountains, where
monumental temples and mystical statues loom in the landscape. Follow the
beautiful visual timelines from ancient times, through the days when Gandhi led
India to democracy, to the busting streets of today's modern Indian cities.
This World Wide Web site is a great starting point for a book report or just
finding out more about all that India has to offer, so turn on some of your
favorite sitar music for atmosphere and start your exotic voyage.
A land of mountains, volcanoes, beaches and jungle, Nicaragua is
a Central American oasis of beauty. At
Experience Nicaragua, you'll discover the magic of the country and meet the
friendly people who live here. Hop into your 4x4 and off road out to http://library.advanced.org/17749/
for an exotic adventure. From poetry to local cuisine, you'll discover a culture
that draws from the native Indians and the Spanish settlers. Be sure to taste
the popular gallo pinto dish! Join in one of the fiestas, annual celebrations
that include parades, music, dance and plays. The site's multimedia page with
video clips, interviews and local music is nothing short of great entertainment.
Plus, there's a special section dedicated to the country's many volcanoes,
featuring a way cool volcanic eruption simulator. Nicaragua has it all,
including the heart.
From
the Rurik Dynasty to Glasnost, you'll experience Russian culture and history
like never before at PBS' The Face of Russia Web site. This fascinating
journey through 10 centuries of art, architecture, music, dance and cinema
reveals the events that shaped Russian culture. Take a troika ride out to http://www.pbs.org/weta/faceofrussia/
and visit sac.
Wale's castles are among the world's greatest historical
monuments. Enter through the front
gates and head to http://www.castlewales.com/home.html
This regal site provides information on more than 400 castles found throughout
the land, as well as profiles of the people responsible for their construction.
By browsing through photographs and historical essays, you'll be exposed to the
intriguing language and culture of the Welsh. Mingling with royalty has never
been this much fun.