On the inside, the whale is decorated with drawings of the internal organs and a whale foetus. On one side of the whale there is a large opening where you can see whale’s white ribs, shaped like something in between ribs and the frame timber on a submarine.

"Deck" between kids rooms and the tarrace, closed

Another backyard hotspot is the deck, built around an existing boulder, where adults can lounge while the kids climb.

Inside the snake there is a long mazy tunnel in which children can hide from both each other and adults. The playground is located in a nature park, and the idea is to provide ways for children to experience nature.

The neighborhood of Brumleby is one of Copenhagen’s architectonic culture gems. The playground, designed by Monstrum, reflects the nature of the neighbourhood, while turning everything topsy-turvy.

The Giant Spider and the Mushrooms playground features a huge spider, entangled in its own web, allowing children to climb into the body like a tree house. The interior is outfitted with warm LED light which gives a warm glow at night, and the eight eyes on the spider’s head are LED spotlights, which lit up the area in front of the spider.

The five-building neighborhood was commissioned by the National Housing Trust in Slovenia. Dekleva Gregorič Arhitekti was responsible for the architecture and the landscape design.

The neighborhood integrates outdoor public space as well.

The Cargoship playground in Höganäs, Sweden, was developed in collaboration with the municipality as part of a general renovation of the area. It’s theme, with a sunken ship, lighthouse and fish, is designed to fit into the maritime environment.

Cliffs of Moher.

Storefronts It seemed as if everywhere we went in Ireland, we were met with charming stores and beautifully designed signs.

There's no lack of craic in Galway.

Archives While searching for Candice's family records, we had the opportunity to look at some seriously old-school documents—such care and precision went into creating these artifacts.

The almost tropical-looking beach of lower Ballydonegan.

Copper Coast Candice strolls along a deserted beach on the Copper Coast, south of Waterford.

Allihies.

Lismore Castle We actually got to spend one night in this castle. Fairly spooky, but beautiful nonetheless.

Moody Dublin Dublin's Temple Bar area on an atmospheric evening.

Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland The President welcomes foreign journalists to Ireland a few days before St. Patrick's Day.

Dingle Peninsula The land is green, the water is green…just about the only thing not green in Ireland is the beer.

Today the outdoor space balances leisure and efficiency, providing residents with an expedient thoroughfare between buildings as well as a place for community recreation.

A spacious community playground is a popular destination at the revamped outdoor area. Ludens added plants to insert more visual contrast between the natural landscape and concrete walkways.

Modern jungle gyms are the order of the day, with loads of tots swinging and jumping from designs by Modern Playhouse and CedarWorks.

Antarctica - Setting foot on the 7th continent Private tour groups have been visiting Antarctica since 1969. Today there are lots of choices among operators sending ships, planes, and helicopters to Antarctica between November and March (the summer season). Many trips start in Southern Argentina, and ship-bound journeys include on-board lectures and access to experts on the ecology of the Antarctic during the cruise. Passengers can kayak around icebergs, or spend a day watching penguins, seals, and whales off the coast. Photo by: Christopher.Michel

North America - Biking the wine valleys of Northern California Almost half of the wineries in the United States are located in California, and many of those are in the valleys north of San Francisco. Wine tasting and winery tours are a drunkenly entertaining way to learn how grapes become wine, but the process involves more than crushing and fermenting grapes. One needs to see the agriculture that goes into America’s wine making, and touch the grapes on the vine, to really appreciate the drink. Work off that hangover by cycling along the winding roads of Napa and Sonoma. Photo by: needoptic

South America - Volunteering in the Peruvian Amazon The Peruvian Amazon is only home to 5% of Peru’s human population, but about 5,500 plant species and 760 animal species unique to Peru live here. Animal rehabilitation centers protect sections of this diverse ecosystem, and trained conservationists help create a safe place for wounded and sick animals. The goal of these reserves is to release healthy animals back into the jungle and teach visitors about the importance of the Amazon. Many encourage volunteers to become involved in the care and preservation of the Peruvian Amazon, giving them a firsthand understanding of the region's ecological diversity. Photo by: cavallotkd

Europe - Touring the cultural centers of Central and Eastern Europe Paris and Rome are beautiful, but there's more to Europe than taking the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower and eating gelato at the Colosseum. Eastern Europe is home to castles, cathedrals, world-famous symphonies, modern art museums, and great beer, wine, and pastries. The cities of Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow, Prague, and Budapest are important cultural centers with citywide art and architecture dating back to the Renaissance. Charles Bridge in Prague has been standing since the 12th century, and Vienna’s city center is home to both Habsburg architecture and modern design. Photo by: Dimitry B

Africa - Summitting and safariing in Tanzania At 19,341 feet, Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. It takes a minimum of six to eight days to reach the summit, during which climbers contend with not only changes in altitude, but changes in climate as well (snowstorms occur close to Kilimanjaro's peak). But reaching the top via one of six routes is a serious achievement, and offers the chance to see both Tanzania and Kenya from above. Serengeti National Park is a five-hour drive, or short flight, from Kilimanjaro airport and is home to some of Tanzania’s biggest animals, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and rhinos. The park has safari lodges and campsites, and tour operators organize excursions throughout the park. Photo by: Tambako the Jaguar

Asia - Exploring nature and culture in China The Chengdu region of China is home to the world's largest population of Giant Pandas. Panda reserves in and around Chengdu focus on protecting the bear’s natural habitat and researching their behavior (best job ever?). Certain reserves allow volunteers to interact with and care for these endangered species. Elsewhere in China, Beijing has some of the country's most important cultural landmarks. Principal among them is the Forbidden City, built during the Ming Dynasty and now home to the Palace Museum. Xi’an, located between Beijing and Chengdu, has the Terra Cotta Warriors archaeological site. This necropolis was originally built for Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, and is thought to have contained over 4,000 life-size soldiers and other figures sculpted out of terracotta. Photo: Chi King

Australia - Transitioning from Outback to tropics by train Riding the Ghan makes for a three-day transcontinental train journey over the plains, deserts, and mountains of central Australia. The route starts either near the beaches of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, or north in Darwin. In between, travelers get a sense of the continent's changing environment as they trundle to Alice Springs, from which a six-hour drive will bring them to Uluru (Ayers Rock). Near the top of the Northern Territory, travelers can stop at Katherine and spend a day at nearby Nitmiluk National Park, a tropical counterpoint to the arid Outback. Photo by: huskyte77

By replacing asphalt, the new playground manages nearly half a million gallons of stormwater annually, improving the health of local waterways. At various public school sites in New York City, green infrastructure components proposed by The Trust for Public Land have included small green roofs on storage sheds, rain gardens, rain catchment systems, and artificial turf fields with a gravel base that allow stormwater to pass through and be absorbed into the ground. With such improvements, green infrastructure components can capture at least the first inch of stormwater that falls on the playgrounds each time it rains.

The asphalt at this school playground in Brooklyn caused stormwater to drain into the Gowanus Canal, putting pressure on the city's sewer system, and adding contaminated runoff to an already polluted waterway. It also made a drab addition to the cityscape.

Patrons survey the photography on display at the Playground lifestyle mall.

Designed with weekend trips in mind, the Baggu Duffel Bag has a classic silhouette made in heavyweight canvas to create a durable and sturdy bag. Available in solid black and striped versions, this unisex bag is an ideal gift for a friend or family member who likes to jet off at a moment’s notice.

The hot tub is a highlight of the home. “It was worth the investment,” says Kara. “Especially late at night when you can see the stars.”