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.

Bottled cocktails, or ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, are all the rage right now. Around 55% of average consumers consider them as a convenient way to have a cocktail.

While convenience is an attractive factor, there are plenty of other reasons why bottled cocktails are on the rise. Check out the benefits and options you have when it comes to this new trend.

What Is a Bottled Cocktail?

Bottled cocktails are pre-mixed alcoholic beverages. Some bottles are interesting artisanal blends; others are simple and straightforward drinks. These drinks require no effort on your part—just open, sip, and enjoy.

Beyond hard alcoholic beverages, you also have access to canned wine and hard seltzers. Additionally, some bottled cocktails come in the form of do-it-yourself kits. While these require a little bit of effort, they’re still much easier to handle than purchasing every cocktail ingredient yourself.

The Benefits of Bottled Cocktails

From bars to liquor stores, you have a lot of options when it comes to making cocktails. However, bottled cocktails provide significant perks and should be on your radar. If you’re skeptical about bottled cocktails, take a look at these fantastic benefits that cater to all sorts of situations and tastes.

They’re Portable

Whether you’re going to the beach or a picnic, no one wants to lug around bottles of wine and liquor. That’s why bottled cocktails are an excellent choice for on-the-go activities.

By bringing ready-to-drink cocktails, you save yourself the hassle of mixing drinks yourself. After all, no one wants to go on bartender duty when they’d rather have fun.

They’re Simple

Depending on if you choose a cocktail-making kit or a ready-to-drink cocktail, the main perk is simplicity. You no longer have to purchase several different bottles of liquor, mixers, and garnishes to create your ideal cocktail. Depending on the type of cocktail, you get all of the ingredients together without any effort on your part.

You Get Variety

Bottled cocktails are perfect for people who want variety in their alcoholic drinks. Kits and bottled cocktails allow you to explore interesting recipes with ease, such as hard seltzers. If you prefer the classics, like an old fashioned or a martini, you have access to those too.

Plus, whether you’re looking for a light afternoon sip or a stiff party, there are plenty of options for whatever you’re in the mood for. You can check out these bottled cocktails that are boxed and ready-to-ship, check out your local grocery store or even make your own.

They’re Cost-Effective

Bottled cocktails prevent you from having to purchase entire liquor bottles. Plus, some cocktails require niche garnishes and odd additions that end up getting wasted if you only make one cocktail. The cost-savings are all part of what makes bottled cocktails worth your attention.

Opt for Bottled Brews

Bottled cocktails aren’t just a new trend. These types of cocktails provide great benefits and make happy hours a lot easier for everyone involved. With the wide variety of cocktails available, you’re guaranteed to find a blend you’ll love without the hassle of making it yourself.

If you loved this guide, check out the rest of our posts. We write helpful blogs about traveling, recipes, and more.

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.