Often referred to as the Rose-Red City, Petra stands among the deserts and mountains of Jordan as a legacy frozen in time. Carved from a wall of sandstone within the Great Rift Valley, the first sight of the 130-foot facade and its intricate designs and columns conjure up an ancient…

Scattered across the waters of the South Pacific, Vanuatu stands as one of the world’s most captivating yet underexplored destinations. This Y-shaped archipelago of 83 islands offers visitors an authentic Melanesian experience wrapped in pristine natural beauty, active volcanoes, and some of the most culturally diverse communities on Earth. Vanuatu…

There are two reasons why cable car rides are utterly irresistible. Firstly, the engineering that enables a length of wire to haul a small metal cabin up steep mountains and across gaping valleys is intriguing. But more importantly, there’s the gorgeous view from the top, with a city or countryside…

“We have lost only one man,” said Alpha Omega, our Devil’s Pool guide, a tall stick of a man, “and that was because he saved a guest who chose not to take his advice.” All the guides standing at the edge of the briefing room/cafeteria considered this statement solemnly, their…

Scenically situated on the banks of the Danube, the Hungarian capital of Budapest had been on my hit list for a while. Although its popularity has soared over the last few years, the city still receives only a fraction of the visitors that heavyweights such as London, Paris, and Rome…

The dual-nation Dutch/French island of St. Martin (Sint Maarten on the Dutch side) is known for a lot of things: crystal clear aquamarine waters, expansive beaches, great seafood and plenty of sun. Its sandy shores aren’t the only things that sparkle, however; the jewelry district of Philipsburg boasts brilliant jewelry…

On a planet where over-tourism is spoiling the very place you’ve gone to visit, it’s a rare treat to be far from the crowds and close to nature. A place where only a handful of other humans are swimming with baby sharks in the bay, or you’re the only person…

When you think of somewhere stunning that you want to visit or a unique place you want to see, what comes to mind? How often have you thought about standing on a see-through platform for the ultimate view? If you are like me and are afraid of heights, I am…

The huge redwood we were gazing at in the middle of Muir Woods soared high above our heads, filtering out the sun.  The ground around it was covered with dappled images of light and shade that moved and shifted as the mighty tree swayed slightly in the breeze. Established on…

A chill north wind blows across a landscape, stark but beautiful at the same time. But a peat fire is always nearby in some stone cottage with a thatched roof, where both the occupants and the ambiance are warm (and so, sometimes, is the beer; this is Britain, after all!).…

Imagine being farther from dry land than anyone has ever been—so far out in the ocean that astronauts floating overhead are literally your closest neighbors. Welcome to Point Nemo, Earth’s most isolated location and quite possibly the loneliest spot on our planet. Point Nemo isn’t just “remote.” It is mathematically,…

Wyatt Earp still lives, and he is leading a group of visitors through historic Tombstone, Arizona. In the original Boot Hill cemetery, he points out a particular gravestone. The epitaph reads, “Here lies Lester Moore Four slugs from a 44 No Les No more.” Oft-quoted and credited to gravestone makers…