Most people who make the trek to Middle Earth will inevitably pass through Auckland. But instead of using it as a jumping off point to get out of town there are plenty of adventures to be had right in Auckland.

Besides the holidays, winter is generally considered an off-season for travel. But if you can handle the cold, the crowds are generally lighter and prices cheaper, with many deals to be found.

While most people think of the desert as barren flatland or dusty sand as far as the eye can see, that's hardly an accurate picture. You may not know it, but Northern Arizona used to be completely volcanic, which actually made it the most geographically…