Snorkeling tips

Imagine an adorable fleet of tiny turtles flopping their way towards sea, leaving the beach behind them until their miraculously return, years later, to nest at the exact site of their birth. For lovers of nature and all things cute, witnessing a sea turtle hatch is an unforgettable experience. But you've got to get the timing right and need to know the best places to watch turtles hatch.

Life in the Florida Keys is dominated by the ocean. The simplest trips become postcard-worthy adventures on the Overseas Highway, the link between its countless balmy isles, while the coral barrier reef just a few miles off shore will have even the most experienced divers raring to go. From kayaking the mangroves to paddleboarding at night, here are some of the best things to do in this fascinating region.

If you’re up for a challenge, tackle the 305km Coast to Coast trail, which stretches from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay in North Yorkshire. The British fell walker and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright devised this walk in the early 1970s, and it has attracted keen hikers ever since. Over 19 days, you’ll cross from the coastal village of St Bees on England’s west coast though three English National Parks – the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors – before finishing with a paddle in Robin Hood’s Bay, just south of Whitby. Along the way you may spot osprey soaring over Lake Ennerdale, see why the poet William Wordsworth was so taken by Grasmere village and meet locals in a tearoom in Danby Wiske. Book a Self-Guided Walking: Coast to Coast trip with KE Adventure Travel, which includes luggage transfers and B&B accommodation.

First things first: Despite some truly terrifying tales of survival, you are incredibly unlikely to be duking it out with a shark any time soon.

Editor’s Note: Monthly Ticket is a CNN Travel series that spotlights some of the most fascinating topics in the travel world. In July, we’re heading for the great outdoors as we highlight everything from incredible adventures to unique camping experiences.