Germany is home to a handful of walled medieval towns that have withstood the test of time, but Rothenburg ob der Tauber is beyond a shadow of a doubt the most charming village of them all. In addition to strolling along quaint cobblestone streets and admiring red-roofed buildings, travelers can explore the town’s unique history…
The jagged tiers and thundering waters of Kaaterskill Falls have inspired poets and painters since European settlers first began taking notice of the waterfall in the 1800s. Writer Washington Irving created one of the first tourist booms in the United States after he vividly described Kaaterskill Falls in his story Rip Van Winkle. Rip Van…
The vibrant red rocks and sweeping vistas of Bryce Canyon are without a doubt some of the most gorgeous scenery not only in the United States but the entire world. Visitors are literally awestruck when they view stately towers of red rocks at Inspiration Point. Many nature lovers consider Bryce Canyon to be the most…
In 1945, Hollywood set designer Mel Melvin was tasked with creating a fantastical bar at San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel that would make patrons feel as though they were drinking and dining on the set of a movie. Mel Melvin fashioned the Terrace Plunge—which was a room that contained a swimming pool that was installed in…
A historic battleship isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of Christmas, but the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia, hosts an annual event known as Nauticus’ Winterfest on the Wisconsin that transforms a decommissioned battleship into a hub of holiday cheer. Initially constructed in 1941, the USS Wisconsin saw numerous…
For at least a few hundred years, Cajun communities in Louisiana have gathered to light huge bonfires near the levees that line the Mississippi River on Christmas Eve. No one is exactly sure how this tradition started, but most historians speculate that Catholics lit bonfires so they could find their way to Midnight Mass on…
Once upon a time—local lore states that it was actually around the 12th century—there was a small village in Northern Italy called Ivrea where a tyrannical ruler thought that he could mistreat women as he pleased. When the tyrannical ruler decided to have his way with the miller’s daughter Violetta, she fought back valiantly and…
Located southwest of India, the Maldives is an island nation that is home to powdery white sand, glittering turquoise water, and lush palm trees. Beach enthusiasts consider the Maldives to be one of the most gorgeous seaside paradises on Earth. Visitors can dine at an undersea restaurant, admire bioluminescent waves, and relax in an overwater…
