Insider Guides tips

The most iconic structure in the United States is not the Empire State Building, but like the emblematic skyscraper, it’s located in New York. The Statue of Liberty, known throughout the world as a symbol of the United States’ most important values: freedom and democracy, remains mysterious to many. From its color to its origins and its weight, there is plenty people want to know about Lady Liberty (a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984) before they pay it a visit.

For a surfer, arriving in Raglan, New Zealand, is a revelation. You might ask yourself why you thought of New Zealand mainly as a hiking destination. Or you might wonder why Australia gets so much surf attention. Strolling through the bohemian surf town, gazing at the endless sand of Ngarunui Beach, or catching a left-hander that goes on forever at Manu Bay, you might just decide to move to Raglan.

The Puna de Atacama is the high plateau of the Atacama Desert that stretches across northern Chile and Argentina. Last August, during the South American winter, we visited this eerie Mars-like landscape, where volcanoes, sand, and salt mingle. In the middle of the Puna sits one of Argentina’s highest villages, Tolar Grande, with an elevation of 11,500 feet. Surrounding it are some of the tallest peaks in the Andes, many soaring well over 20,000 feet high. We stayed in the village for a few days, experiencing how hard it is to live at high altitudes, in such a desolate and remote location.

Mexico’s colonial history is best represented in one immense and ornate building: The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. It was the first cathedral to be built in the Americas by the conquering Spaniards who wanted to show their domination and that of their culture and beliefs over those of the indigenous Aztec people. And they did so by building this large religious complex near Templo Mayor, the main temple where the Aztecs used to worshipped their gods. Today, the largest and oldest cathedral in Latin America remains a symbol of religious and colonial power, but it is also an impressive piece of architecture — and it is very much worth visiting.

It may be hard to believe, but there’s a place in England where the sand is fine and white, the sea is turquoise blue, and the sun shines more than just about anywhere else in the country. In this dream-like place, you can surf, you can sunbathe (and even get a tan), you can hike coastal paths, valleys, and moors, and you can stuff you face with cream teas and pasties. You guess it, Cornwall, England, is a must-see when in Britain. Lucky for you, it’s only a direct train ride away from London.

Lake Como, or Lago di Como, is what the Riviera is to France: An area of the country that is so beautiful and serene it has attracted the rich and famous for centuries. (It is no secret that George Clooney has a swanky villa along the lake.) All these wealthy celebrities have managed to create a bubble of luxury around this magnificent part of northern Italy by building immense and luxurious villas along the lake’s shore, but if you’re a non-millionaire traveler who wants in on the action, worry not, there are ways to have a good and affordable time on the shore of Italy’s most famous lake.

If you know someone who’s been to Saudi Arabia, chances are they visited AlUla. There’s a good reason for that. Located in the Medina province in northwest Saudi Arabia, AlUla is defined by its almost surreal landscape of canyons, wadis (dry valleys), sandstone cliffs, and ancient Arabic rock dwellings and tombs that trace the 7,000-year history of people living in the region. It’s also the home of Hegra, the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, a city built by the Nabataeans – the same civilization that built Petra – over 2,000 years ago. Thanks to this concentration of geographic and historical wonders, it’s no surprise that AlUla has become the centerpiece of Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning tourism push.

If all you do in Queenstown, New Zealand, is while away a few hours at the airport, you might still feel as if you’ve escaped to an alpine chalet. The mountains overlooking arrivals alone fulfill Peter Jackson’s promise of a landscape befitting the fantastical world of Tolkien’s creation, with every inch of the drive into town solidifying the suspicion that Middle Earth may have been discovered, not invented.

The well-trodden western coast of the northern Scottish Highlands is a common road trip destination for visitors to the United Kingdom. But to escape the crowds flocking to the Isle of Skye, head to the east and north, where far fewer visitors venture and you can actually enjoy a bit of peace and quiet at the top of Britain. These five spots along the North Coast 500 route will make for an unforgettable road trip, that can be easily extended even further west should you want to continue the journey. You may even have the winding roads to yourself along the way, except for the occasional flock of sheep crossing the road.

New Zealand is one of the happiest countries in the world. It helps that its landscapes are so stunningly otherworldly that New Zealand is a go-to filming location for literal fantasy lands. But for travelers, New Zealand’s natural beauty can be more than just a fantasy. If you’re headed to the Land of the Long White Cloud — a popular translation of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s indigenous Māori name — start with the South Island to see for yourself. These six natural attractions prove just how fantastical the New Zealand’s South Island truly is.

The turquoise waters and paradise beaches of Brazil’s Região dos Lagos have earned this watery region the nickname Caribe Brasileiro, the Caribbean of Brazil. The area lies on a lake- and lagoon-filled coastal outcropping in Rio de Janeiro state, just a couple hours’ drive north of the city of Rio. While it’s best known for the glitzy beach resort of Búzios, the less-traveled town of Cabo Frio is less than an hour south of Búzios and offers a lot to those fortunate enough to visit. Locals cherish Cabo Frio for the high quality of life, the ease of getting into nature, and the fact that you can have gorgeous places to yourself.

One of the richest countries in the world is a small European nation that very few people put on their bucket list: Luxembourg. Or as it is officially known: The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The country of much less than one million inhabitants and smaller than 1,000 square miles, is a mysterious one for many. The head of state is a Grand Duke, there are three official languages, and all public transports are free.

There aren’t many places in the world where you can enjoy a glass of local shiraz while kangaroos feed and play in the vineyards nearby. The Hunter Valley is one of them.

Exploring the Amazon, the planet’s largest tropical rainforest and freshwater system, is a dream for many, but the costs of joining an organized tour expedition can be prohibitively expensive. Luckily, shelling out thousands of dollars for a spoon-fed expedition is not the only option. In fact, a week of the most thrilling and authentic mode of Amazonian travel — cargo-passenger boats — will probably cost you less than a fancy weekend in Rio de Janeiro.

I was immediately enveloped by the scents of the spices in the souks, the bustling of the medina, and the relaxation of a hammam when I touched down in Marrakech. Here in this vibrate Moroccan city, it’s easy to find experiences that teach you about the culture and leave you awe-inspired. Maybe it’s learning how to use those ever-present spices at a cooking class, or maybe it’s riding a camel in the desert. There’s simply no shortage of things to do to get a feel for all that Marrakech has to offer — even if you only have a short time in the Red City (a nickname you’ll quickly understand looking out onto the ramparts and buildings).

At the southernmost tip of South America is the region of Patagonia, spread between Chile and part of Argentina. The region is one of the most extreme on earth, with huge mountains, rushing rivers, massive glaciers, rare wildlife, and the remnants of volcanos so tall they’re often shrouded in weather patterns different from those at the base. It’s extremely undeveloped and wild, thanks to federal protections from the two countries.

When ancient Romans founded Valencia, Spain, the city was built around the Turia River. The Turia River no longer runs through Valencia. In its place, a beautiful urban park snakes more than five-and-a-half miles through Spain’s third-largest city.

Pasadena, California, really does have something for everyone. Food lovers, sports fans, those who travel for live entertainment, and history buffs will all find something to love in this city. Pasadena provides options for both families, couples, and even solo travelers.

Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming. In the least populated state in the country, that translates to just under 60,000 people. But don’t let the population size fool you. This centrally located city is a paradise for outdoor lovers that also has a thriving urban center, a diverse economy, and a rich historical and cultural heritage.

It wasn’t even meant to be: the city of Banff was initially founded to support the development efforts of the transcontinental railway. Today, Banff is one of the top resort towns in Canada, a popular destination in Alberta that offers the perfect blend of serenity in nature with jaw-dropping adventures. Whilst most travelers tend to explore Banff in the colder months to see its winter beauty (along with Jasper and Lake Louise), Banff is just as charming and welcoming during the warmer months. Located within the Rocky Mountain peaks, you can feel nature’s warmth in the cold months and inhale mountainous fresh air in the spring and summer months.

From 11,362 feet, summertime in Switzerland’s Jungfrau region looks like a half-colornized photograph. Peering down from the viewing platform at Jungfraujoch, the mountain saddle that connects the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks in the Bernese Oberlands, you can trace the jagged, piny line where the limestone-and-ice mountains melt into the fertile green valleys below.