World’s longest suspension footbridge opens in Switzerland
Hikers can now walk across a 494-metre-long, 85-metre-high suspension bridge, the longest in the world, which opened this week in the Swiss Alps. The 10-minute walk along the 65-centimetre-wide steel bridge affords spectacular views of the country's highest mountains, including Dom at 4,545 metres. The bridge crosses Switzerland's deepest valley and falls on the Europaweg hiking trail, running between 1,600 and 2,200 metres above sea level. In the canton of Valais, the free attraction is between six and seven hours hike from Zermatt or a 2.5-hour walk from Grächen. For more information, visit www.zermatt.ch.
Dream your way between Los Angeles and San Francisco
In the United States, travellers now have an alternative to driving or flying between California's two biggest cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Cabin is a luxury coach service described as a "moving hotel", which offers "private sleeping cabins" from US$115 (Dh422) per person, departing either city at 11pm and arriving by 7am the following morning. Two pieces of luggage, night-time tea, water and free Wi-Fi are available, and attendants are present throughout the trip. Each cabin features fresh bedding, a power outlet, a reading light, blackout drapes and a privacy blind for the inside window onto the hallway. Although the cabins are soundproof, ear plugs are provided. There are shared bathrooms. For more information, visit www.ridecabin.com.
Japan opens new spa-themed amusement park
Visitors to Beppu on the southern Japanese island Kyushu can now don swimming costumes to experience a hot-tub rollercoaster, a bath-tub merry-go-round and foam parties, after a crowdfunding campaign made the idea a reality. The project is part of the Beppu Rakutenchi leisure park and features nine new attractions. According to Japanese daily newspaper The Mainichi: "The project got into slippery territory when it was discovered that the hot-spring water in the bath-tub cars on the roller coaster was too heavy and made it hard to engage the breaks. But after a series of test-runs, it was found that the problem could be solved by adding bubble-bath solution to the hot-spring water and having the ride run as a bubble bath."
