We have reached a tipping point at many of our planet’s most beautiful and special destinations, and you may want to visit them before it’s too late. Whether it is environmental or human related issues affecting these historic and natural locations, they are in danger of being destroyed. The World Heritage Convention and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have picked these four heritage attractions as at-risk and in danger. These sites include the Everglades National Park and Belize’s Barrier Reef. Let’s explore what heritage sites are in danger and why so we can understand what’s going on in our world.

Belize Barrier Reef

Running Belize’s entire coastline, this living wall is protecting the environment from rough seas and is the largest reef system in the Northern Hemisphere. The reef is home to countless fish and coral species and is in danger from overfishing, poor water quality and development without environmental concerns. This is one of the planet’s best snorkeling and scuba diving spots and it may be destroyed by human interference soon.  If we don’t enforce some strict environmental laws in the area soon, we may lose this amazing reef like we are already losing the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Chan Chan

In Peru an ancient civilization thrived before the Spanish Conquistadors invaded the area and even predated the mighty Incan civilization. The Chimu people built the largest mud brick city in the entire world at the site called Chan Chan. This incredible archeological dig is ever changing because rain and weather are turning the mud bricks slowly back into mud and the crumbling infrastructure will only increase over time. See this magnificent site before it’s gone forever. The Incas eventually conquered the Chimu people but they left a real mark on Latin America.

Everglades National Park

Located in Southern Florida and encompassing 1.5 million acres of swampland, The Everglades National Park is in danger because rising sea levels are saturating the freshwater table with seawater and many of the animals and plant life are dying off. The Everglades are home to many species of animals and foliage that thrive nowhere else on the planet. Home to alligators, crocodiles, manatees, and countless other rare species, the Everglades are in serious danger and so are all these beautiful animals. The rising sea levels are seriously affecting the region and it is beginning to show signs of deterioration.

Portobelo-San Lorenzo

This Caribbean port city was originally built to protect Spanish gold and other treasures so it was a favorite spot for pirates. Pirates ruled the Caribbean waters in the 17^th and 18^th centuries and no ship was safe from their plundering ways. The fishing town has some incredible ruins of the Old Spanish naval base to the large amount of sunken ships in the harbor. With plenty to explore and tourism increasing, this heritage site is in danger of being built over as there is no regulations in this region of Panama. Take in the Old Spanish architecture and the beautiful ruins before it’s too late.

The US State Department issued another and more widespread travel alert for much of Europe this summer. This comes on the heels of recent travel warnings for Europe, which are a response to increased chatter from terrorist organizations. There have been some major terrorist attacks and activity in Europe and specifically France in the past few years. Summer is the busiest travel season and many European nations count on this yearly boom for their gross national income.

Details

The travel alert is issued on May 1, 2017 and runs until September 1, 2017. The US State Department believes that with all the recent terrorism at busy tourist attractions in Europe and increases chatter show signs of impending danger. The extremists are hell-bent on spreading their fear and terror by attacking the western civilization at the heart of their freedom.

France

Recent attacks in France have made huge headlines and many people have been affected by these incidents. Paris is an international city with millions of tourists each summer, so a travel warning like this could hurt their bottom line. Will this travel alert make people reconsider their summer travel plans, only time will tell?

The Alert mentions Paris as a possible site where terrorism could occur and that should worry people with plans through that city.

Russia

Russia seems to be in continuous turmoil and this summer season is no different. The country has been the target of terrorists in the past and many of those are homegrown threats. If you have plans to visit Russia, I would check with the US embassy just in case.

Great Britain

Great Britain has many strong ties to the United States and that makes them and their territories targets of terrorist organizations. London is one of the most visited cities in Europe and now the State Department is warning US citizens about the threat of a terrorist attack in that city this summer.

Islamic State and al-Qaida

The two main terrorist groups responsible for all these threats and attacks are the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al-Qaida. They have plenty of operatives already in place all over Europe and these sleeper cells are waiting for the opportunity to strike. The US State Department doesn’t believe that these attacks are imminent but there are strong possibilities.

What You Should Do

If you already have travel plans for Europe this summer, it may be too late to change your plans. If this is the case, don’t worry, the odds of being in a terrorist attack are very minimal and just being smart will help you out. If you plan on traveling to the alerted areas, contact the local embassy or consulate and see if there are any new developments. Watch media and see if there are any new warnings.

Look for things that are odd or out of the normal but overall just try and enjoy yourself. Life is too short to let the terrorists win, let’s keep living our free lives and we will always win in the face of adversity.

New York, the city that never sleeps is easily one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it doesn’t have to be. You can enjoy New York like a local and have a blast in the Big Apple for free. Sounds impossible, well, it isn’t and I’m about to show you how to have fun for free in New York City. This city is magical and full of fun activities and events to enjoy that won’t cost you a dime and will show you just how awesome New York truly is.

Museums

Many museums in New York offer a few days a month or week for free and that is a great deal. New York is known for it’s incredible museums full of culture and classic works of art, but often they have a hefty price tag attached. If you know where to look, you can find out that most of these museums offer free or discounted rates, so keep your eye out and enjoy in some of NY’s incredible culture and class.

Art Galleries

Most art galleries in New York are free to enter because they want people to browse their art and hopefully make a purchase. Believe me, it feels good to pretend to be art shopping while checking out the thriving art scene in Chelsea. Within a 10 block radius are some of the best art galleries in all of New York, so check out 18^th to 28^th streets between 10^th and 11^th avenues.

Public Parks

New York is known for having some epic public parks and we aren’t just talking about the big daddy, Central Park. Most of the urban parks have awesome sculptures and statues, while some feature fountains and playgrounds. All are free and most are wonderfully maintained. Take your kids to the Washington Square Park fountain or Jacqueline Onassis reservoir in Central Park. These parks are here for your pleasure, so enjoy them.

Free Ferries

I’m on a boat! Get out there and see The Statue of Liberty for free by taking a free ferry. The ferry runs from lower Manhattan to Staten Island every 20 minutes and takes passengers pretty close to Ellis Island and old lady liberty herself. Best thing is you don’t have to stay in Staten Island, just get off and back on the ferry and head back to the city. You can get amazing pictures of The Statue of Liberty from the deck.

Iconic Sightseeing

There aren’t better places in the world to just walk around and sightsee. The city’s huge buildings surround some of the most iconic sights you will see anywhere, so check out the city. Only a few buildings charge to get to the top but many times you can find views for free. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or checkout times square. The busier the attraction, the more there are to see, so check out what this huge city has to offer.

Free Comedy

Most comedy clubs in the city charge a flat fee for entry where you can see some of the world’s greatest comedians. But if you are looking for a great comedy show without paying an entry fee, look no further than UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade) on Sunday Nights for ASSSSCAT, a free comedy show with plenty of celebrities. The first show of the evening is $10 but the second show is always free, all you have to do is wait in line for about an hour.