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KS1 Science: How does sound travel?

BBC Teach > Primary Resources > KS1: Science > The world around us

Sound travels in waves called sound waves.

Sound waves travel through particles, making them vibrate and collide with other particles. This bumping and vibrating continues, passing from particle to particle, carrying the sound through the air. So, it's the vibrations that carry the sound.

Sounds can travel through water, solids, air or anything that has particles for the sound vibrations to bounce off.

That's why there's no sound in space. For sound to travel it needs air molecules to vibrate. In deep space there's no air. We call this a vacuum.

You can muffle or reduce sound by using thick materials that absorb some of the sound waves. Materials like sponge or cardboard are good examples. They capture the sound waves and bounce them around within them, until the vibrations slow down and stop.

Well, Cara, is that working?

Cara! Hello, Cara!

Cara: I can't hear you!

Video summary

This short film explains how sound travels through air. We investigate how sound is transferred through materials and the role that molecules have in this process.

It builds on the concepts explored in the conductors and insulators film and relates these to the movement of molecules in the context of sound rather than temperature.

After investigating how sound travels, the film moves on to explore insulators and how these can shield the sound transfer.

Central to these concepts is the role of different materials and this is explored through this film.

Teacher Notes

This short film is an ideal tool to support pupils in discussing what sound is and how it travels, it is also useful to look at the role of an insulator in the context of sound.

Pupils can discuss and explore how the movement of molecules causes sounds to travel and how this impacts on our daily lives.

Pupils can discuss how they can find out more about materials that act as conductors and insulators for sounds through planning a science investigation themselves.

Points for discussion: · What is a conductor? · What is an insulator? · How does sound travel? · How can we stop or reduce the volume of sound traveling?

Suggested activities:

After watching this short film, you could work with pupils to investigate conductors and insulators of sound in the context of your classroom.

Can pupils plan and carry out an investigation to find out how they can increase of decrease the ability of sound to travel from one location to another?

To do this, they will need to consider equipment needed and also make predictions to then find out if they were correct.

This short film is relevant for teaching science at KS1 in England and Wales, Foundation and KS1 in Northern Ireland and Early and 1st Level in Scotland.

More from The world around us series:

The human body

This animation takes KS1 pupils through the five senses and all the organs of the human body, showing how we are all different and yet the same in many ways.

Keeping my body healthy

This animation explains the importance of eating well, drinking water, and getting enough exercise and sleep.

Animal life cycles

This animated film shows the life cycle of a butterfly and a frog, and takes us through the human life cycle.

The food chain

This short film for KS1 pupils describes food chains, explaining what consumers and producers are, and what can happen if a food chain is disrupted.

Conductors and insulators

This short film introduces pupils to conductors and insulators. It investigates how heat and electricity are transferred or not through different materials and illustrates the role that molecules play in this process.

In this short film we investigate solutions and how they are formed. We explore how two substances combine to form a solution and what their properties are.

Plant life cycles

This short film explains how plants change over time, as well as the clever ways they reproduce.

NOTIFICATIONS

Sound – visualising sound waves.

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Sound is a form of energy that is caused by the vibration of matter. Sound is transmitted through waves, which travel through solids, liquids and gases. We are most used to the sound travelling through air, but sound is able to travel faster and further in solids and liquids .

‘Seeing’ sound

If we could see the molecules that make up the air around us, we would see sound as a series of more and less dense areas of air that are moving away from the source of the sound at about 340 metres per second. We say sound is a wave because the air molecules move back and forth while the sound travels along. The air behaves much like a longitudinal or compression wave on a spring.

It is difficult to draw compression waves , so waves are generally represented as transverse waves for simplicity. The dense areas of the compression wave are the peaks of the transverse wave and the sparse areas are the troughs.

Microphone – transforming sound energy into electrical energy

In order to visualise a sound wave, we can use a microphone to transform sound energy into electrical energy. A simple microphone is made up of a very thin membrane with a coil of very fine wire attached. A magnet is positioned so that it is just inside the coil of wire but not touching it. When a sound wave strikes the membrane , it jiggles (vibrates) back and forth because of the high and low pressure areas of the wave. This causes the coil to jiggle, and when a coil moves in a magnetic field, an electrical current is produced. If we look at the electrical current using an oscilloscope, we can see the sound as a series of peaks and troughs.

The sound from single pitch or note will make a simple sine wave on the screen. The wave will change as you change the volume or pitch of the note.

Related content

This article is part of an article series :

• Sound – understanding standing waves
• Sound – resonance
• Sound – wave interference
• Sound – beats, the Doppler effect and sonic booms

with the accompanying investigations:

• Measuring the speed of sound
• Investigating sound wave resonance

Additional articles and activity ideas

Find out more about studying sound under water and read about what is needed for sound to be heard , and how sound travels through water to understand some of the key science concepts.

Investigating waves and energy uses slinkies to explore longitudinal and transverse waves.

Make and use a hydrophone explains how to construct an underwater microphone.

Sound on an oscilloscope uses a computer’s microphone to create a visual display.

The PLD article Physical World – Sound curates Hub resources for the early years through to year 10.

Visit the sound topic for additional resources.

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by Chris Woodford . Last updated: July 23, 2023.

Photo: Sound is energy we hear made by things that vibrate. Photo by William R. Goodwin courtesy of US Navy and Wikimedia Commons .

What is sound?

Photo: Sensing with sound: Light doesn't travel well through ocean water: over half the light falling on the sea surface is absorbed within the first meter of water; 100m down and only 1 percent of the surface light remains. That's largely why mighty creatures of the deep rely on sound for communication and navigation. Whales, famously, "talk" to one another across entire ocean basins, while dolphins use sound, like bats, for echolocation. Photo by Bill Thompson courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service .

Robert Boyle's classic experiment

Artwork: Robert Boyle's famous experiment with an alarm clock.

How sound travels

Artwork: Sound waves and ocean waves compared. Top: Sound waves are longitudinal waves: the air moves back and forth along the same line as the wave travels, making alternate patterns of compressions and rarefactions. Bottom: Ocean waves are transverse waves: the water moves back and forth at right angles to the line in which the wave travels.

The science of sound waves

Picture: Reflected sound is extremely useful for "seeing" underwater where light doesn't really travel—that's the basic idea behind sonar. Here's a side-scan sonar (reflected sound) image of a World War II boat wrecked on the seabed. Photo courtesy of U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, US Navy, and Wikimedia Commons .

Whispering galleries and amphitheaters

Photos by Carol M. Highsmith: 1) The Capitol in Washington, DC has a whispering gallery inside its dome. Photo credit: The George F. Landegger Collection of District of Columbia Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America, Library of Congress , Prints and Photographs Division. 2) It's easy to hear people talking in the curved memorial amphitheater building at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Photo credit: Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress , Prints and Photographs Division.

Measuring waves

Understanding amplitude and frequency, why instruments sound different, the speed of sound.

Photo: Breaking through the sound barrier creates a sonic boom. The mist you can see, which is called a condensation cloud, isn't necessarily caused by an aircraft flying supersonic: it can occur at lower speeds too. It happens because moist air condenses due to the shock waves created by the plane. You might expect the plane to compress the air as it slices through. But the shock waves it generates alternately expand and contract the air, producing both compressions and rarefactions. The rarefactions cause very low pressure and it's these that make moisture in the air condense, producing the cloud you see here. Photo by John Gay courtesy of US Navy and Wikimedia Commons .

Why does sound go faster in some things than in others?

Chart: Generally, sound travels faster in solids (right) than in liquids (middle) or gases (left)... but there are exceptions!

How to measure the speed of sound

Sound in practice, if you liked this article..., find out more, on this website.

• Electric guitars
• Speech synthesis
• Synthesizers

On other sites

• Explore Sound : A comprehensive educational site from the Acoustical Society of America, with activities for students of all ages.
• Sound Waves : A great collection of interactive science lessons from the University of Salford, which explains what sound waves are and the different ways in which they behave.

Educational books for younger readers

• Sound (Science in a Flash) by Georgia Amson-Bradshaw. Franklin Watts/Hachette, 2020. Simple facts, experiments, and quizzes fill this book; the visually exciting design will appeal to reluctant readers. Also for ages 7–9.
• Sound by Angela Royston. Raintree, 2017. A basic introduction to sound and musical sounds, including simple activities. Ages 7–9.
• Experimenting with Sound Science Projects by Robert Gardner. Enslow Publishers, 2013. A comprehensive 120-page introduction, running through the science of sound in some detail, with plenty of hands-on projects and activities (including welcome coverage of how to run controlled experiments using the scientific method). Ages 9–12.
• Cool Science: Experiments with Sound and Hearing by Chris Woodford. Gareth Stevens Inc, 2010. One of my own books, this is a short introduction to sound through practical activities, for ages 9–12.
• Adventures in Sound with Max Axiom, Super Scientist by Emily Sohn. Capstone, 2007. The original, graphic novel (comic book) format should appeal to reluctant readers. Ages 8–10.

Popular science

• The Sound Book: The Science of the Sonic Wonders of the World by Trevor Cox. W. W. Norton, 2014. An entertaining tour through everyday sound science.

Academic books

• Master Handbook of Acoustics by F. Alton Everest and Ken Pohlmann. McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. A comprehensive reference for undergraduates and sound-design professionals.
• The Science of Sound by Thomas D. Rossing, Paul A. Wheeler, and F. Richard Moore. Pearson, 2013. One of the most popular general undergraduate texts.

Text copyright © Chris Woodford 2009, 2021. All rights reserved. Full copyright notice and terms of use .

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The Art of Travel Photography – Milford Sound Photography Guide

LAST UPDATED: 1/19/24 – Milford Sound Photography Guide

This Milford Sound photography guide contains references to products on my Amazon Store site.  I may receive a commission when you purchase these products from my store, though at no additional cost to you.   I hand-pick and recommend only the products that I am either familiar with or comfortable recommending.

Milford Sound is one of this world’s most stunningly beautiful locations, but it can also be a very challenging location to photograph.  Between heavy moisture, ever-changing weather conditions, and rocking boats, it can be difficult to come away from a visit to Milford Sound with the high-quality photographs you desire.  If you aren’t prepared, you may come away from a visit to Milford Sound without any eye-popping shots, or worse yet, without any working camera equipment.

That is why I have put together a Milford Sound photography guide to assist you with some tips and tricks that I picked up during my visit to Milford Sound. This will help you avoid some of the common pitfalls that people run into when photographing this iconic location.  If you follow these tips you will have a much better chance of capturing the memorable photographs of your trip that you set out to capture.

Milford Sound Photography Guide Navigation Menu

Milford sound do’s and don’ts.

Before I get into the specific photography tips that I have for photographing Milford Sound, I think it is important to discuss some basic rules that you should keep in mind when you visit.  These rules are important because they can mean the difference between a great shot and a poor shot and a working camera and a damaged camera.

Be Prepared for the Elements

One of the most important tips that I can give you for photographing at Milford Sound is to be prepared for the elements.  Specifically, you need to be prepared to get wet and for your camera gear to get wet.  It rains over half of the year at Milford Sound, so chances are it will be raining when you visit.  And not just raining, it may be raining hard.  You need to have a plan to keep yourself comfortable and your gear safe when you photograph Milford Sound.

Have a Plan for a Rocking Boat Ride

One of the best ways to see and photograph Milford Sound is to take a cruise.  Not only does this allow you to see the most of this stunning landscape, but it also allows you to get up close and personal with the waterfalls and wildlife. 

While the boat rides are great for getting you around Milford Sound and close to the elements you want to photograph, they can also present some unique challenges for photographers.  Specifically, boats on the ocean typically aren’t the most stable photography platforms.  To take quality photographs on a Milford Sound cruise, you need to have a plan to deal with rocking boats.

No Drones Allowed

If you were planning on bringing your drone to Milford Sound to get some amazing aerial shots, I would think twice about doing that.  New Zealand has some of this world’s strictest drone laws, and for good reason.  There are a lot of helicopters and floatplanes that fly above the amazing landscapes that you want to get drone footage of, and your drone poses a very real danger to them.  If you want to use a drone at Milford Sound, you should be aware of the guidelines New Zealand has around drones.

• They are not allowed in National Parklands.  While Milford Sound is not technically part of Fiordland National Park, it has also banned drones from flying near the sound.  To fly a drone above Milford Sound, you will need to apply for authorization to operate your drone in the area.
• If you do get authorization, you will need to follow all regulations set forth by the local government in the Milford Sound area.  You can find all local regulations regarding drones on the New Zealand Local Government website .
• Before you try and get any pictures or footage of a marine animal such as a dolphin, whale, or sea lion in Milford Sound, you should be aware that the New Zealand government has strict rules when it comes to flying drones over these animals.  You can fly your drone no closer than 150 meters horizontally from any wildlife.  These rules are put in place to protect the animals and should be taken very seriously.  If you would like to photograph wildlife in Milford Sound, you will need to obtain a permit from the Department of Conservation in New Zealand.
• Finally, when flying a drone in New Zealand, you need to understand the federal laws that govern drones.  Any drone under 25kg is considered to be a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) by the New Zealand government.  The rules governing all RPAS set forth by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand are as follows:

Height: Drone can fly no higher than 120m/400ft Distance:   The drone must be flown within line of sight, which means that you must always be able to see your drone with your own eyes.  This does not include being able to see it with the aid of binoculars or a monitor. Weight: Under 25kg.

Always Be Safety Conscious

When you are photographing at Milford Sound, it is important to remember that you are in a wilderness area.  You should take every precaution necessary to make sure you are safe.  This means you should avoid doing things that put you in jeopardy, even if it means you don’t get the pictures you want.  When on boats and near water or ledges you should be especially careful when taking selfies.  Falling overboard, slipping into the water, or falling off a ledge could lead to serious injury or death.

The last general tip that I have to give you for photographing any location, including Milford Sound, is that you have to be patient.  When you are taking travel photographs, things are going to get in your way of getting the shots that you want. 

Challenges will inevitably occur.  People may be in your way, the weather may not cooperate, your gear may malfunction, or other challenges might pop up that test your patience.  If you let these challenges get to you or give up, then you are assuredly not going to get the photographs you want.  If you are patient and find a way to work around the challenges, your persistence and patience might really pay off.

Milford Sound Photography Tips

Now that I have given you some general guidelines to keep in mind as you prepare to photograph Milford Sound on your trip, I would like to next discuss some photography tips and tricks that I can give you that will help you better capture this amazing place.  If you keep the tips in my Milford Sound photography guide below in mind, you will undoubtedly capture some beautiful pictures.

Focus on Wide Angle Shots

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you in terms of photography tips when visiting Milford Sound is to have a wide-angle lens with you.  There will be many instances where you will be up close to or in tight with the subject material that you want to photograph, and it will be nearly impossible to fully capture the subject matter unless you have a wide-angle lens.

This is especially important if you are using a camera that has a crop sensor instead of a full-frame camera.  If you aren’t familiar with the difference, a crop sensor automatically magnifies the image you are photographing by either a 1.3, 1.5, or 1.6 times magnification (depending on the camera). 

This magnification can have its advantages if you are trying to capture images that are far away, as the default magnification provides more “reach” for your camera.  However, if you are trying to photograph objects that are up close to you, then it can have its obvious disadvantages.

In the image above, I illustrate how using a full-frame versus a crop sensor camera can influence the type of shots you can get at Milford Sound.  The image I took was with a Canon 5D Mark IV camera, which has a full-frame sensor.  You can see how much wider a profile the full-frame camera has than a crop sensor camera such as a Canon Rebel T7i with the same lens.  I was able to capture much more of the landscape with a full-frame camera than I would have been able to with a camera with a crop sensor.

Now, I am not saying you need to invest in an expensive full-frame DSLR to be able to properly capture Milford Sound.  However, I am saying that you will need to plan ahead to make sure you have the necessary wide-angle lens, especially if you are using a camera with a crop sensor.  To give you an idea of what I would recommend for a minimum focal range for different types of cameras, I have included some recommendations below for you to review.

• Full Frame Cameras:  Minimum focal range of 20-28mm
• 1.3x Crop Sensor Cameras:  Minimum focal range of 14-22mm
• 1.5x Crop Sensor Cameras:  Minimum focal range of 12-20mm
• 1.6x Crop Sensor Cameras:   Minimum focal range of 10-18mm

Don’t Miss the Money Shot

No photography trip to Milford Sound can be complete without capturing the iconic image of Milford Sound with the majestic Mitre Peak in the background.  As you can see in the image below, the charismatic cone shape of this beautiful 5,500-foot-tall mountain makes a stunning backdrop in any photograph of Milford Sound.

You can capture Milford Sound with Mitre Peak in the background from the area around the docks at Milford Sound or on your boat cruise as you depart.  Wherever you decide to take this photograph, don’t leave Milford Sound without capturing this image.  It’s what everyone envisions when they think of Milford Sound.

Look Out for Wildlife to Photograph

In addition to the stunning landscapes, Milford Sound is also infamous for the wide range of wildlife that visitors can see there.  Among the marine animals that visitors can possibly see in the sound include dolphins, penguins, sea lions, whales, sharks, and a variety of different bird species.  If you want to make your photographs of Milford Sound stand out, one of the great ways that you can do that is by highlighting some of the extraordinary wildlife that lives there.

Granted, there isn’t a way to control what wildlife you see when you visit Milford Sound, but you are going to want to keep a lookout for wildlife when you visit.  When you do spot wildlife, you are going to want to be ready to photograph it.  It might sound easy, but there are quite a few challenges to shooting wildlife in Milford Sound that you need to be aware of and prepared to deal with.

One of the biggest challenges you will face when taking photographs in Milford Sound in general, but especially of wildlife, is the constant motion.  Not only the motion of your subjects, as many of the animals you will be photographing will be in motion, but also the motion of the platform where you will be standing.

When you take a cruise on Milford Sound, the boat you are on will undoubtedly be rocking.  Pair this with the fast movement of some of the animals you will see in Milford Sound and you can see how it might be difficult to get photographs of some of the wildlife at all, let alone photographs that are in focus.

You will also want to use a fast shutter speed when photographing moving animals in Milford Sound.  This will help freeze the motion and make sure that your photographs are crisp and in focus.  To give you an idea of what type of shutter speed to use for which animals in which circumstances, I have included some examples for you to review above.  For instance, you will want to use a much faster shutter speed when photographing swimming or flying animals than you will when photographing stationary or walking animals.

Be Creative With Your Shots

When thinking of all of the tips and tricks that I can give to you to help you take better photographs at Milford Sound, this one almost fell through the cracks.  It is very easy to get bogged down with equipment and technique recommendations, but one of the best tips I can give you has nothing to do with either.  One of the best ways to improve your photographs in general, and this holds true at Milford Sound as well, is to be creative with your composition.

There are so many interesting features at Milford Sound that you can be creative with.  The boats on the water, the towering mountains on both sides of the sound, and the ever-changing weather are all things that you can use to create creative compositions for your photographs.  You are only limited by your imagination.

Don’t Miss the Waterfalls

One of the amazing features that you can use in the composition of your photographs of Milford Sound to really make your photographs stand out are the beautiful waterfalls that you can often find cascading down the mountains and into the waters of the sound.  These waterfalls can be over twice the height of Niagara Falls and have huge volumes of water.  This is especially true right after a big rainfall.

Some of my favorite ways of photographing the waterfalls are by looking straight up into the waterfall or by looking sideways down the cliff face as I did in the photograph above.  You really get a sense of how beautiful and powerful these waterfalls are when you photograph them that way.  Not to mention, you also get a good view of the vegetation that grows on the rock face in this rainforest environment.  The combination creates some absolutely stunning photograph compositions.

Bring a Polarizing Filter

Outside of bringing a wide-angle lens, the best tip I can give you on what type of equipment to bring to photograph Milford Sound is to make sure you have a polarizing filter for your lenses.  When photographing Milford Sound, you are going to want to reduce the glare off the water and cliffs and bring out the deep blues in the sky and the water.  The best way to do those things is to use a polarizing filter.  I would make sure you have a polarizing filter for at least your wide-angle lens as that is the lens it will be the most useful on.

Include Boats in Your Photographs to Show the Scale

The scope of Milford Sound is grand, both in the size of the sound itself as well as the size of the mountains that surround it.  When you take pictures of large, vast landscapes like Milford Sound, it is very easy for the size of those landscapes to get lost in your photographs.  Without something in the photographs to show the scale of the landscape, it is hard for people’s eyes to discern how big the landscape is.

The easiest way to remedy that problem and show your photograph’s viewers the vastness of Milford Sound is to include some of the boats on the water in your pictures.  In addition to providing your photos with some much-needed scale, the boats are also interesting subjects to include in your shots.

Top Photography Spots

One of the best ways to improve your travel photography is to do a little research on the location you are traveling to ahead of time.  Armed with this information, you can be better prepared in terms of what gear to bring, what lighting conditions you can expect, and where to go to get the best shots. 

To help you prepare for your photo trip to Milford Sound, I have included a resource to help you. In my Milford Sound photography guide below, you will find a link to my Photography Prep Guide for Te Anau, New Zealand.

What Gear to Pack for Milford Sound

Before you leave for the Milford Sound, make sure you have the right camera gear with you to be successful.  Having the right gear can mean the difference between great photographs and poor ones.  More importantly, it can be the difference between coming home with all of your equipment in working condition or having equipment issues.  To help you pack your camera gear for this trip, I have included a list of essential gear for you to review in my Milford Sound photography guide below.

Digital Camera

Wide angle lens, extra batteries, camera bean bag, camera backpack, polarizing filter, waterproof camera cover, optional equipment.

Any additional equipment that you bring will need to fit inside your bag and you will have to carry its weight around with you while you visit, so make sure you choose your gear wisely.  Below are some optional pieces of gear you might want to consider bringing.

• Zoom lens (200-300mm maximum focal length) .  A wide-angle lens will be far more valuable at Milford Sound, but you may want to photograph wildlife or other subjects that require more reach.
• Battery Grip .  Having a battery grip will allow you to go longer without having to change batteries (as most hold two at a time), and they also make taking portrait shots much easier because of the more convenient shutter button location.

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Published by Josh Hewitt

Avid traveler and photographer who loves to see new places, meet new people, and experience new things. There is so much this world can teach us, we just need to explore! View all posts by Josh Hewitt

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2 comments ›.

Great tips and wonderful photos. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Laci!!! 😀

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You will be fine! I just looked at your camera and I don’t think you’ll have any issues at all.…

Hello. We arrive in Lima May 12. I just heard there is a limit of 200mm for a lens in…

My pleasure Josh.

Thanks so much for the kind words Carl!! Glad you found it helpful!!

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6 of the best active pursuits on Cape Cod and the Islands

From morning hikes along Martha’s Vineyard's towering bluffs to sunset sails on Nantucket Sound, this picturesque pocket of New England is perfect for an active getaway.

By land or by sea, the great outdoors beckons in the seaside paradise of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. This natural New England beauty is incredibly scenic, with a rugged coastline and golden dunes, surrounded by the mesmerising blue-grey expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. From kayaking across the yacht-filled waters of Nantucket Harbor to oceanfront golf on Martha’s Vineyard, here are six of the best activities to enjoy Cape Cod and the Islands.

1. Set sail on Cape Cod

Sailing is an iconic New England pastime, and Cape Cod is one of the best places for people to master their nautical know-how. Visitors needn’t be America’s Cup-ready to set sail here — the coastline is navigable for novices looking to sail on their own or learn from an experienced crew. Falmouth, on the north side of the island, is home to placid waters and programmes designed to enhance the sailing prowess of children and adults alike — from individual lessons by Falmouth Harbor to all-women clinics on Buzzards Bay.

2. Whale watch on Cape Cod

Wildlife lovers should follow the ‘arm’ of Cape Cod’s peninsula north to Provincetown, where the first recreational whale-watching in the US originated on the East Coast. Whales are an integral part of Cape Cod’s history and economy, and seeing one in the wild is magical. Cape Cod was established as a whaling community in the early 17th century, but the ever-present humpback whales were almost extinct in the 1960s during an era of commercial whaling. In 1986, a temporary ban was put in place to allow whale stocks to replenish, which is still in place today. Thankfully, they can be spotted today on sailing cruises to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which is also a popular feeding ground for fin and minke whales. Peak season is from May to October, and if you’re lucky, you can also spot whales from the shore at Race Point Beach, the northernmost tip of Cape Cod.

3. Hike on Martha's Vineyard

Wide open spaces await amid sprawling meadows, rolling hills and 124 miles of unspoiled seaside on Martha’s Vineyard . An excellent way of exploring this island is by foot — it’s a wonderland of walking trails, with more than 220 miles of forest tracks, cliffside hikes and seaside paths. Though the island may seem quaint, Martha’s Vineyard is the third-largest island on the East Coast, and 40% of its land is protected, making the island a haven for threatened wildlife.  

Birdwatchers are sure to enjoy a morning walk in Edgartown’s Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary or amid the 600-plus acres of dunes and woodlands in Vineyard Haven’s Long Point Wildlife Refuge . The Aquinnah Cliffs also have an excellent trail leading to Gay Head Lighthouse along Moshup Beach, while the 311-ft summit of Peaked Hill in Chilmark, renowned for being a Second World War military lookout, offers beautiful vistas.

4. Play golf on Martha’s Vineyard

Hit the links on Martha’s Vineyard, home to an enticing selection of golf courses available to locals and day-trippers alike — no club membership necessary. Head out to the idyllic island of Chappaquiddick for nine holes at The Royal and Ancient Chappaquiddick Links (otherwise known as the Royal Chappy). Don’t let the name fool you — this establishment is anything but uptight and the shorter course allows visitors to spend the remainder of their afternoon exploring the rustic surroundings. For a more upscale outline, Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs is a championship-level course favoured by the Obamas, which has pristine views of the Nantucket Sound. Luckily, the club is only semi-private, so you needn’t have the presidential seal of approval to gain entry.

5. Kayak on Nantucket

Nantucket is the best place to take to the sea and be seen, so downtown Nantucket Harbor is, unsurprisingly, a diverting locale for kayakers. Enjoy the terrific people-watching (a classic Nantucket pastime) as you navigate among the mega-yachts and classic sailboats, and take in the Brand Point Lighthouse. Calmer tides await at Sesachacha Pond near Quidnet Beach, where the brackish, shallow water is a paddlers’ paradise — stand-up paddleboarding included. A freshwater oasis awaits kayakers and birders alike at the 132-acre Long Pond in the wetlands of the island’s west side.

6. Cycle on Nantucket

Only 14 miles long and home to more than 35 miles of bike paths, Nantucket is the perfect spot for biking. It’s not very hilly and the ocean breeze renders the conditions ideal. Plus, it’s the best way to beat the high-season traffic that clogs the roads every July and August — rendering the one-mile Town Lane path downtown is especially valuable. Sconset Path is a scenic, six-mile journey to the island’s eastern end, passing cranberry bogs and hydrangea-adorned Cape Cod houses. Madaket Road Path, on the island's western side, has one of the longer bike trails on Nantucket and it is also one of the most rewarding, especially when you arrive at the marvellously secluded Madaket Beach.

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Mother's Day is this weekend! See where to find the best deals on things she'll love

Mother's day is this sunday, may 12, by maria chamberlain • published may 9, 2024 • updated on may 9, 2024 at 2:00 pm.

What mom doesn't want to feel loved, appreciated and truly spoiled on Mother's Day ?

Sure, the clock is running out on tracking down the perfect gift before Sunday, but it's not too late to find last-minute savings and freebies for mom.

From free frozen yogurt to free flowers, restaurants, brands and retailers are helping to make Mother's Day easy and affordable this year.

The Travel Mom surprises audience members with epic Mother's Day vacations

Who is Mother's Day really for? Moms and grandmothers sound off

Get Tri-state area news and weather forecasts to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York newsletters.

Deals/Events at Retail Stores

If you're a Lowe's Rewards Member, you can sign up to receive a free one-pint annual plant at your local Lowe’s store on May 11-12. Just sign into your Lowe’s Rewards account, and reserve your freebie under the “My Rewards” section to get your mom flowers just in time for Mother's Day.

Pottery Barn Kids

If she's a mom to young kids, she'll love creating something together with them. PBK is hosting a free Mother's Day craft event at participating stores on May 11 from 10 a.m. to noon local time.

Space is limited so RSVP ahead of time.

Is mom getting a new phone for Mother's Day? Walk out of the store with two gifts instead of one.

Select Verizon stores will be gifting a limited-edition Mother’s Day mercado bag by Latina lifestyle brand,  Hija De Tu Madre (HDTM ) with any purchase.

Bonne Maman

Enter the “Love Each Day” sweepstakes by May 15 for a chance to win a prize package from Bonne Maman and Milk Street that you can enjoy with your mom.

5 lucky winners will receive:

• A $500 Milk Street gift card
• 2 jars of Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread (12.7 oz.)
• 1 Bonne Maman Sampler Gift Tin
• 4 jars of Bonne Maman Preserves (13 oz.)
• 1 jar of Bonne Maman Lemon Curd (12.7 oz.)
• 4 jars of Bonne Maman Fruit Spreads (11.8 oz.)

Send mom a free AI-generated card and share it on social media to enter for a chance to win a trip home to hug mom in person.

People living in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, South Africa, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico can enter for a chance to win a plane ticket home by following these steps:

1) Create your Mother’s Day card at  mgrm.link/makeyourmothersday  and save it to your device

2) Head to Instagram and follow  @MoneyGram

3) Post your Mother’s Day card as an Instagram Story and tag  @MoneyGram

Contest runs through Wednesday, May 15.

Mrs. T's Pierogies

The frozen pierogi company is inviting parents to take the Mrs. T's Go-Fun-Me Challenge – a commitment to make a simple dinner one night a week and use the time saved to create a memorable family experience in or out of the home instead.

From now until June 3, parents can opt into the challenge by visiting  www.MrsTsPierogies.com/Go-Fun-Me . One deserving parent who takes the challenge will win $1,000 a month for an entire year and a year's supply of pierogies.

The brand will also surprise some fans on social media with Go-Fun-Me kits with everything needed to create an unforgettable family night, like setting up a backyard movie or going on an outdoor adventure.

Online Deals

Bookshop.org.

Gift mom a new book and support independent bookstores. From now through May 12, save 10% on select titles with code LOVEMYMOM.

Get rid of those toxic Teflon pans and upgrade mom's cookware with Caraway. Bundle and save 15% as part of Caraway's Mother's Day collection. Discount is automatically applied.

Calpak has the best luggage, diaper bags, packing cubes, and any other kind of bags she could need. Right now, save 15% on orders over $100. Discount is automatically applied at checkout.

Dick's Sporting Goods

Gift mom the trendiest romper of the summer and save. Dick's Sporting Goods has a sale on Free People's Hot Shot Onesie in the red and ivy color. Pay just $43.97 - $45.97 versus the regular price of $70.00.

If she practices yoga, get her the CALIA 5mm Dry Grip Yoga Mat in the beautiful Terracotta color and save $20.00.

Help mom become the healthiest version of herself. From now until May 12, save $100 on a Hurom juicer with code HEALTHYMOM.

Juliet Wine

The eco-conscious luxury boxed wine brand is having a sale now through May 12. Take 20% off any two or more Eco-Magnums of Juliet with code MOM20.

Give mom the gift of self-care with the medical-grade LED light therapy product that's all over TikTok.

• Take $45 off 1 full-sized device with code MOM1
• Take $110 off 2 full-sized devices with code MOM2
• Take $200 off 3 full-sized devices with code MOM3

Whynter Home Appliances

Clip a $30 off coupon on Amazon to save on an automatic ice cream maker, freestanding wine cooler and counter-top oven. The promo will be active until May 12.

Is mom in need of some new eyeglasses or sunglasses? Now through May 12, save 30% with code MOM24.

Auntie Ann's

If you're a Rewards Member, get yourself a Cinnamon Sugar or Original Pretzel and get mom one for free on Mother's Day.

When you take your mom to eat at participating Bar Louie restaurants, her entrée will be free with the purchase of an additional adult entrée.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

Moms dining in at BJ's restaurants over Mother's Day weekend (May 11 and 12), will receive a free stemless wine glass, while supplies last.

California Pizza Kitchen

If you want to treat your mom to a delicious meal at home, pre-order one of CPK's Meal Kits for 2 or 4 people, starting at $55. Choose from grilled chicken or salmon. Available only at participating locations.

Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick is celebrating moms with a BOGO offer on May 10. Buy one Large Quick Chick, get another free at all locations. Offer valid for dine-in and drive-thru orders only.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chicken Salad Chick (@chickensaladchick)

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will offer delectable 3-course menus for Mother’s Day weekend.

A new 3-course lunch menu starting at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, May 11, and 10 a.m. local time on Sunday, May 12, along with a classic Surf & Turf 3-course menu available all weekend for $55 each.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (@flemingssteakhouse)

Free wings for mom. When you dine-in on Mother's Day, buy 10 of any style of wings and get 10 free.

From now until May 12, KFC is offering a "real-talk" Mother's Day menu. The “Taste of Time-off Meal" includes four pieces of crispy fried chicken, two sides of mashed potatoes & gravy and two biscuits. The "Mom Appreciation Meal" includes eight fried chicken tenders, two large sides, four biscuits and four dipping sauces. There's also a "Eight Piece and Quiet Meal” and a “Dad’s In Charge of Dinner Meal.”

If you order delivery or schedule a pick-up, you can get a free 10 pc. KFC Saucy Nuggets with a minimum $10 purchase and 40% off a 12 pc. bucket of fried chicken breasts, thighs, drums and wings.

Insomnia Cookies

Now through May 13, when you buy a dozen cookies, get 4 additional classic cookies for free. To redeem, you must add the deal to your online cart or mention the deal in-store prior to checkout.

Panda Express

Panda Express wants to help you celebrate mom with "flavor and ease." Get a five-person family meal for $30 with the code THANKSMOM.

The Country's Best Yogurt

TCBY is celebrating moms by gifting them a free 6 oz. cup or cone of frozen yogurt on May 12.

For self-serve stores, toppings are included in the 6 ounces but customers will have to pay the difference if it weighs over the 6 ounces.

Twin Peaks will offer several drink specials on Mother's Day:

• Half-priced wine by the glass
• $5 red or white sangria
• $5 Wycliff Brut Champagne by the glass

White Castle

Get 20% off Mom's White Castle order on May 12. Use promo code WCMOM for online orders.

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Travel along with the indie sounds

CHENNAI: A soothing sound echoes through the age-old walls of DakshinaChitra as a crowd follows the musical notes to discover some of their favourite artistes starting their performances”. This is the core idea behind the experiential concert Follow the Sound, an initiative by the Madras Commune, according to their creative director Kashyap Raghuraman. The second chapter of this unique idea, in collaboration with DakshinaChitra, will be held on Saturday at various venues inside the heritage museum.

Follow the Sound has three artistes lined up — Otha Sevuru, a band from Chennai popular for their folk lyrics, Maalavika Sundar, an independent artiste and playback singer, and Vijaynarain, an popular name in the field of music.

Otha Sevuru, a band known for their independent music surrounding folk tales and unique style, talked about how the event will help remove the restriction of an artiste’s performance space. “Tamil culture, in general, has been a part of a performance and audience crowd only in the last 200 years. Before, music was always enjoyed together and out in the open. In Follow the Sound too, the artiste moves along with the audience, creating more interaction since there is no restriction of the stage and fourth wall to be broken,” says Pravekha Ravichandran, a band member.

Independent musician Vijaynarain is also geared up for his first moving concert. “I’ll be performing some of my unreleased songs along with some of my released original work,” he says, talking about how he’s venturing more into the independent music scene. “Live show ideas like this help you connect with your audience more and help you grow as an artiste. Especially in an age where social media artistes are abundant, I believe live shows are the purest way of connecting with your followers as far as independent musicians are concerned,” he notes.

In the concert, Maalavika will perform her first complete indie set. “As an artiste, it feels liberating to perform your compositions,” says Maalavika. “All these unique ideas help the industry a lot because I feel when a concert is announced, a lot of pressure goes on the artiste. Concepts like this will make it very easy for the artiste because, ultimately, the audience is coming for the experience. The concept sells by itself, and the artiste is a bonus.”

Follow the Sound was started as an event that helps the audience understand the music and surroundings equally, making it an experience rather than a regular concert. Places inspire Kashyap to create unique concepts like this. “The Pink Mood Boat Concert was also a similar idea that I got after living near the beach for a while. DakshinaChitra inspired me to bring in the concept of a moving concert here in Chennai,” he says.

In an age where art is becoming one of the most powerful tool in dismantling walls of differences, Follow the Sound tries to put forth innovation that can be incorporated into presenting art. “This idea is very new to a place like Chennai, where the performances of indie musicians are restrictive in terms of space. It usually happens in closed spaces like clubs and cafes. DakshinaChitra is the perfect venue for something like this because the campus is big and has nearly 40 to 50 types of trees,” says Pravekha.

Follow The Sound will be held on May 11 from 6 pm to 9 pm.

Tickets at: insider.in

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Southern Brazil has been hit by the worst floods in more than 80 years. At least 39 people have died

People evacuate a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 39 people, with another 68 still missing, the state civil defense agency said Friday, as record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes.

The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil’s southern Rio Grande do Sul state jumped to 56 as of Saturday morning, according to the state’s civil defense agency. Helicopters are being used to rescue residents on the rooftops who were isolated in their homes by the widespread flooding that has already displaced more than 30,000 people.

Residents and their pets evacuate a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

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A soldier evacuates a dog from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

Streets are flooded after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

Firefighters evacuate people from a flooded area after heavy rain in Sao Sebastiao do Cai, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Thursday, May 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

An aerial view of an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

A man wades through an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

People evacuate an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

People evacuate from an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carlos Macedo)

SAO PAULO (AP) — Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 39 people, with another 68 still missing, the state civil defense agency said Friday, as record-breaking floods devastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes.

It was the fourth such environmental disaster in a year, following floods in July, September and November 2023 that killed 75 people in total.

The flooding statewide has surpassed that seen during a historic 1941 deluge, according to the Brazilian Geological Service. In some cities, water levels were at their highest since records began nearly 150 years ago, the agency said.

On Thursday, a dam at a hydroelectric plant between the cities of Bento Goncalves and Cotipora partially collapsed and entire cities in the Taquari River valley, like Lajeado and Estrela, were completely overtaken by water. In the town of Feliz, 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the state capital, Porto Alegre, a massively swollen river swept away a bridge that connected it with the neighboring city of Linha Nova.

Operators reported electricity, communications and water cuts across the state. More than 24,000 people had to leave their homes, according to the civil defense agency.

Without internet, telephone service or electricity, residents struggled to provide updates or information to their relatives living in other states. Helicopters flew continually over the cities while stranded families with children awaited rescue on the rooftops.

Isolete Neumann, 58, lives in the city of Lajeado in the Taquari River valley and told The Associated Press she has never before seen a scenario like the one she is now experiencing.

“People were making barricades in front of hospitals with sand and gravel. It felt like a horror movie,” she said by phone. Some people in her region were so desperate, she added, that they threw themselves into the water currents.

Neumann’s own neighborhood wasn’t inundated, but has no running water and she hasn’t showered since Tuesday. She said she’s collecting rainwater in a basin to be able to cook. A clothing store she owns in the city’s central area is flooded, she added.

“I don’t even know how it must be. There must be nothing left.”

The downpour started Monday and is expected to last at least through Saturday, Marcelo Seluchi, chief meteorologist at the National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters, told Brazil’s public television network Friday.

On Thursday night, Gov. Eduardo Leite alerted the state’s population — known as gauchos — about the persistence of rains and floods. The situation was expected to worsen in Porto Alegre, he said.

“As a human being, I am devastated inside, just like every gaucho is,” he said. “But as governor, I am here steadfast and I guarantee that we will not falter. We are doing everything with focus, attention, discipline, and outrage, to ensure that everything within our reach is done.”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva acknowledged the flood victims at a press conference on Friday alongside Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Brasilia .

“The first words from Minister Fumio Kishida in the meeting we held were of solidarity with the people of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, who are victims by one of the largest floods we have ever known. Never before in the history of Brazil had there been such a quantity of rain in one single location,” Lula said.

Weather across South America is affected by the climate phenomenon El Niño , a periodic, naturally occurring event that warms surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific region. In Brazil, El Niño has historically caused droughts in the north and intense rainfall in the south.

This year, the impacts of El Niño have been particularly dramatic, with a historic drought in the Amazon . Scientists say extreme weather is happening more frequently due to human-caused climate change.

Karina Lima, a 36-year-old scientist and PhD candidate in climatology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, told The Associated Press that the state is located in a region with certain characteristics that amplify El Niño’s destructive potential.

“Models have long predicted that Rio Grande do Sul will continue to see an increase in average annual precipitation and extreme precipitation, meaning more concentrated and severe rainfall,” she said.