Destinations

The memory of your first sea turtle sighting never fades. Whether it’s a turtle swimming gracefully or hatchlings scurrying toward the sea, these moments linger for a lifetime. Wherever your travels take you, you’ll come across unique species in stunning environments, each moment showing you just how rich the ocean truly is. But the sense

With its gorgeous tropical islands, cerulean lagoons and a vibrant, community-oriented culture, French Polynesia is the kind of travel destination daydreams are made of. It’s located in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Australia and the US, and is made up of 121 islands divided into five archipelagos. Tahiti is the main island and

The Land of Enchantment will have you under its spell as soon as you get behind the wheel. This geographical fantasy land offers otherworldly landscapes, giant granite bluffs, peculiar-shaped hoodoos and vast dusty desert panoramas on its road trips. It’s got ancient dwellings to tour, adobe structures to visit, and ghost towns rich with old

Springtime in Japan means one thing: cherry blossoms. The whole country watches and waits for the first sakura (cherry) trees to burst into bloom. Once they do, people flock to parks and squares for hanami or flower viewing. The romance is passionate but fleeting, lasting only a week or two. Cherry blossom viewing has been

I lived in Marrakesh full-time for almost 10 years with no intention of leaving. My life in Morocco was colorful, diverse and endlessly inspiring for a curious, creative soul like me. And today the city’s intrigue and magic continues to pull me back. I will never tire of wandering the tiny alleyways of the Marrakesh

From watching wildebeest and zebras gallop across Serengeti National Park to basking on Zanzibar’s beaches and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania is famous for big, bold and beautiful experiences. But with so much to see and do, it can take some planning to tick off all the items on your bucket list. Some experiences are so

The sun-soaked Mexican beach town of Puerto Vallarta calls out to outdoor enthusiasts with its palm-fringed coves, thrilling wildlife-watching opportunities and delightfully walkable downtown. Top that off with buzz-worthy cuisine, loads of public art and Mexico‘s most accessible and relaxed LGBTIQ+ scene and it’s easy to see why this is one of the nation’s most

Natural wonders appear everywhere you turn in Vietnam. If you take an atmospheric ride on one of Vietnam’s long-distance trains – the Reunification Express, perhaps, linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – you’ll witness an endless patchwork of almost impossibly green rice paddy fields, broken up by sand-lined bays and highlands cloaked in

Encircled by mountains of myth and sitting astride the shores of its eponymous lake of bluest blue, Lucerne is every bit as gorgeous as it was back in the 19th century when Goethe, Wagner and Queen Victoria eulogised its beauty. Slow travel comes naturally here, with boats, trains and cable cars breezing across the lake

The most popular of the Riviera Nayarit’s two dozen towns was once a sleepy fishing village. Yet the secret quickly spread among surfing the community – and today Sayulita draws visitors of all stripes.  Since the village is now a haven for hipster surfers and boho-chic travelers, you’ll struggle to find a spot for a

Mexico City is one of the most culturally jam-packed cities in the world. It’s also one of the largest and most heavily populated, stretching around 50km across and filled home to more than 20 million people. Knowing how to get around the Mexican capital will help you get more out of your time in North

Rio de Janeiro is a huge and chaotic city, full of music, dancing, delicious food, captivating smells, incredible landscapes, and all of the marvels and mess that come with it. It’s not, however, a place where you can easily fight against the current, and the happiest Cariocas – residents of Rio – have learned that

The city of San Sebastián in northern Spain has more incredible food and drink experiences than some entire countries, packed into a picturesque jumble of streets, surrounded by gorgeous mountains and easily accessible beaches.  The top item on most visitors’ to-do lists is, quite rightly, downing a plethora of pintxos (small bites) and fizzy txakoli

Though Budapest is a superstar city on most travelers’ bucket lists, Hungary has many other attractions worth exploring, including world-famous wine regions, lovely lakes, UNESCO-listed sights and historic towns. Traveling around the country is easy and affordable, and Hungary is also a manageable size, with most inland journeys from Budapest taking about a couple of

Malaysia offers two countries for the price of one: the cosmopolitan Peninsular Malaysia, with its historic cities, tea plantations, offshore islands and rich multicultural heritage; and rugged Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, where the travel gets less comfortable but more thrilling once you leave the cities of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. The good news is that

St. Lucia’s body-positive environment was a confidence boost for Stephanie Yeboah; who now recommends the Caribbean island to fellow plus size travelers. Growing up in a plus size body doesn’t come without its negatives. From the polarizing treatment I would get from strangers, to lack of access to basic facilities, everywhere I turned I would

Most visitors to Central Switzerland base themselves in Lucerne in order to explore the glorious landscape that surrounds it, but don’t forget to make some time for the city itself. Not only does it have a gorgeous setting on the shore of the Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Lucerne), but it offers world-class museums, fascinating history, a lively

Affectionately known as the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, Philadelphia has top things to do for sports fans, museum-goers and everyone in between. The large, bustling city is known for its historical significance in cementing the country’s democracy as much as it’s known for being the land of Philly cheesesteaks (and yes, you

Long the domain of savvy sailors and fly-in millionaires, the spectacular Grenadines also offer plenty for the independent traveler – you don’t need your own boat to fully explore the magnificent archipelago. Spanning the nations of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, the Lesser Antilles region offers a wide variety of authentic Caribbean experiences

From crumbling Aztec empires to flamboyant mariachi bands, Mexico has a wealth of history. Less known and often overlooked is the country’s connection to the African diaspora and the rich Afro-Mexican cultures that followed. There are several reasons why this culture isn’t well known outside of Mexico. Although Mexico has one of the largest populations