Photographer Chris Burkard said that Norway was the coldest location he has ever surfed. (Chris Burkard) Photos of surfers riding swells are nothing new, but California-based photographer has taken his surfing excursions to the most unexpected places all over the world -- the icy waters of Norway, Russia and Iceland. “I love places like Malibu, but that scene has never been for me,” Burkard told weather.com. “My surf experience and mindset has always been destitute as I gravitate towards empty...

'Due to the mountainous terrain in Costa Rica's tropical environment, cloud forests like Monteverde are covered in moisture-rich fog, giving life to a diverse range of plants. This red suspension bridge allows you to explore the canopy 300 feet above the ground.' (Matthew Karsten) With its stunning landscapes and unique wildlife, Costa Rica has taken a prominent —and sometimes, permanent — place in many travelers' to-visit list. The Central American nation's natural beauty and richness is one of the reasons...

Padlocks adorn the Pont des Arts. The nine-arch metallic footbridge, completed in 1804, is one of the most romantic places of the capital. People visit it to attach love padlocks displaying their initials or messages of love, before throwing the key into the River Seine. (Yves Forestier/Getty Images) This Valentine's Day, some people will go to extreme lengths to prove their love to their sweethearts, perhaps with acrazy marriage proposalor aromantic getaway to a heart-shaped island. But some people will...

An Alaska Air plane is serviced at Newark Liberty International Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) NEW YORK — This year's brutal winter has led to the highest number of flight cancelations in more than 25 years, according to the Associated Press. IU.S. airlines have canceled more than 75,000 domestic flights since Dec. 1, including more than 14,000 this week. That's 5.5 percent of the 1.37 million flights scheduled during that period, according calculations based...

Hidden Beach - Marietas Islands in Mexico The experience of exploring the world's hidden wonders is one of the best things about travel. From a waterfall hidden in a deep gorge to a park quietly tucked in the Mexican jungle, these destinations feature surprising — and stunning — secrets that will inspire you to go off the beaten path. With its fantastic rock formations and idyllic sand beaches, it might be hard to believe that this picturesque locale was once...

The crumbling ruins speckle the Turkish border with Armenia in a hodgepodge fashion; a half-standing wall here, an empty church there. Standing in defiance to the elements and to the geopolitical turmoil that has ravaged the region of generations, the ancient ruins of Ani are a reminder of both mankind's ability to build magnificent cities and our willingness to allow these monuments to succumb to decay. The various structures of Ani have stood for hundreds of years, with historians first...

Sometimes you just can't avoid a confrontation with Mother Nature. Whether it's the wild ferocity of a tornado or the rumbling tremors of an earthquake, humans have developed plenty of methods for coping with calamity when it arrives. Ecuadorians, especially those living in and around the city of Quito, have made an art of uncertainty. The city is perched on the eastern slopes of an active stratovolcano named Pichincha, which erupted in 1999, but spared the city from destruction and...

Inside the Ice Castle in Breckenridge, Colo. (Lon Lovett/Ice Castles) Ever fantasized about walking in a real-life winter wonderland? Ice Castles, a Utah-based company, has made it a reality for its visitors. Brent Christensen started Ice Castles after he moved his family from California to Utah. He wanted to create something for his children in their new cold-weather environment, so he started with an ice rink. The ice rink, however, wasn’t just a regular skating rink — it included a...

Michael Hodson, who traveled around the world in without flying, white water rafting in New Zealand. (Michael Hodson) In December 2008, lawyer Michael Hodsonquit his practice in Arkansas to set off on a quest to circle the globe the green way — without taking a single flight.After 16 months, six continents and 44 countries, he succeeded on his quest, and has not stopped traveling since. For Hodson,circling the globe without flying represented a big travel challenge that also highlighted environmentally...

Pilot Karim Nafatni has captured these stunning images of Dubai, his hometown. (All images courtesy of Karim Nafatni) Karim Nafatni is a pilot from Dubai who has a superb collection of images of the blossoming Middle Eastern city. Some of his images are a look down from rooftops, while others are taken at street level, giving a true feel for the enormity of Dubai's skyscrapers. Recently, Nafatni spoke to weather.com and shared some thoughts about how weather affects his photo...

Grey Seals A grey seal is released on the southern coast near Czolpino on the Baltic sea, June 2005. Early this week, 10 young grey seals were released into the chilly waters of the Baltic as part of a project to reintroduce the voracious carnivores to the southern Baltic. (JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images) Not too long ago on the geologic time scale (around 9 million years ago), carnivorous beasts roamed the forests of Europe. The giant mammals, including an enormous "bear...

No, time hasn’t frozen. Hierve el Agua looks very much like a waterfall stuck in time, but the cliff is a mineral formation that was created over thousands of years. This hidden gem of a world wonder is located in the central valleys of Oaxaca, Mexico. Surrounded by rolling green hills, two turquoise bathing pools sit atop the cliffs offering a unique place to swim as well as an amazing view of the landscape. Daring swimmers can approach the edge...

Ellora Caves, India Tourists look at a large Hindu stone structure at the Ellora Caves in the western Indian state of Maharashtra on November 16, 2012. The 34 Ellora caves are structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images) Sacred sites are known for their beauty, both in architecture and setting. Their construction is amazing proof of religious devotion — many are built on mountain tops and some hang off the side of a...