Nine things you cannot miss in Scotland

The ancient Kingdom of Fife is steeped in rich history and dramatic scenery. The region is located on a sprawling peninsula on Scotland’s east coast, appreciated for its cinematic scale, ambience, and pure sense of drama. The name ‘Kingdom of Fife’ derives from its historical significance as one of the major Pictish kingdoms, once known as Fib. This four-day itinerary guides visitors through the region’s charming fishing villages, to iconic landmarks and across wild coastal paths. It's a place where visitors can escape, relax and unwind. Explore the historic home of Scotland’s ancient monarchs and tuck into world-class local produce — all within an easy drive from Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city.

Scotland is making impressive strides to be one of the world’s most economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable places. The driving force behind movements on a national scale is the country’s commitment to protect its natural and cultural heritage. This includes rewilding efforts to restore the local ecology, as well as preserving coastal habitats for birds such as the golden eagle and woodlands for the charming red squirrel. Travelers are encouraged to adopt slow travel, and Scotland’s affordable trains and impressive network of EV charging stations make it easy to utilize clean transportation when you visit.

No city knows how to celebrate like Las Vegas — and Sin City was in full throttle for the grand opening of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a casino resort years and years in the making.

The ‘Hogwarts Express’ train - one of the most iconic rail experiences in the UK - is facing trouble down the line.

As I totter across a little footbridge in the gloaming, the water below takes on a treacly sheen, slithering out to sea in the fading light. Ahead, over marshy tussocks, the outline of a ruined barracks looms out of the mist and some lights flicker on in the little red-roofed cottage beyond it. A bank of rain is chasing me over the bog. It catches me just as I reach the village’s (closed) inn so I turn and sprint back to my holiday cottage, Taigh Whin, as the deluge draws a soggy curtain over the landscape. I’ve come to Glenelg, in Scotland’s north-west Highlands, to connect with nature and it’s seeping straight in.

Visitors to Scotland will usually land in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, or enter the country from England in the south and make a beeline for these cities or the Highlands. We have all heard about the Isle of Skye, the island distilleries and the majesty of Edinburgh castle. But just south of all these famous Scottish wonders you’ll find landscapes, castles, forests and experiences to rival anything further north.

Autumn is the perfect season to discover the unique Spirit of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. Start planning your trip at discoverhighlandsandislands.scot

This December in Coastal Mississippi, travelers can unwrap the magic of the season as the 62-miles of coastline transforms into a winter paradise. With sandy beaches, beautiful shorelines, twinkling lights, and surfing Santas – Coastal Mississippi promises a unique holiday experience for residents and visitors alike. “The holiday season in Coastal Mississippi sees festive cheer across our destination from the bayou to the beaches,” said Judy Young, CEO of Coastal Mississippi Tourism. “We hope that all travelers to the region during this jolly time can find an event, or three, to spread holiday cheer and truly experience why we call ourselves a coastal winter paradise.”

Edinburgh is like a scene from a storybook, its spiky turrets, soaring towers, grand squares and cobbled streets every inch the sort of places dragons and princesses would inhabit — not to mention, of course, one particularly famous boy wizard. The city was J K Rowling’s home while she wrote most of the Harry Potter books, and it’s not hard to see the spark of inspiration for her world of magic. Kids’ imaginations have been known to run away with them as they wander the higgledy-piggledy medieval streets of the Old Town up to Edinburgh Castle or march through regal Holyrood Park to the extinct volcano hilltop of Arthur’s Seat, which towers above elegant Georgian streets in the east of the city centre.

A small country that's big on hospitality, ancient history and culture – with numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites – Jordan offers endless opportunities for adventure.

Train travel has seen a surge in popularity with the growing emphasis on slow travel and making a holiday more sustainable. The latest government data on train travel shows that there was a 155% increase in passenger rail journeys last year. Furthermore, research shows that 64% of UK travellers are searching for green travel options, including choosing more environmentally friendly transport options and sustainable accommodation. VisitScotland’s new campaign encourages people to enjoy train travel by promoting a route that connects all of Scotland’s historic cities by train.

Fiona Khuong-Huu, 16, is a pre-college student at The Julliard School and a guest artist and violinist who is part of the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts. The series is geared for children ages six and older and is a fantastic, fun way to introduce a younger generation to the world of classical music.