The small Greek island of Symi is the ideal place to relax and catch your breath during a whirlwind tour of Greece. Dotted with neoclassical mansions, a clock tower inspired by London’s Big Ben, and a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, Symi is slightly more rooted in modern history than the nearby island of…
In 1909, a riverbank collapse on the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England, led to concerns that a busy canal vital to the flow of goods and services would be compromised if the water level rose any higher. Old ships were intentionally beached to create a man-made barrier to protect the adjacent canal. Today, Purton Hulks—otherwise…
If you’re a ghost town enthusiast, Glenrio—which straddles the border of Texas and New Mexico—is truly the stuff that dreams are made of. Once a quiet oasis in the vast arid landscape of West Texas, Glenrio faded out in the mid-1970s when newly paved Interstate 40 left historic Route 66 in the dust. Glenrio serves…
In the 1930s, a hunter named Douglas Herrick developed a keen interest in taxidermy. A jackrabbit pelt positioned next to a rack of antlers inspired Herrick to craft a mythical creature that would become a Wyoming legend. Herrick christened his creation a jackalope (one part jackrabbit, and one part antelope). Ever since Doug Herrick sold…
The Alsace region of France is known for its quaint villages, dry white wine, and proximity to Germany. The Taennchel rock formations tucked away in the Vosges Mountains in Alsace are a quiet stone sanctuary where you can spend the day slowly ascending a path lined with moss-covered stones. Historical artifacts, the beauty of nature,…
When most people think of colorful landscapes, they think of lush plants, blooming flowers, and towering trees. The black volcanic sand, blue icebergs, and pink skies of Iceland’s Diamond Beach—also known locally as Jökulsárlón Ice Beach—prove that chilly landscapes can be just as vibrant as any tropical destination. Located approximately 5 hours outside of Reykjavik,…
Ever since Frankenstein author Mary Shelley and her husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, wrote about their dreamy excursion to an idyllic alpine farming community in the early 1800s, the Swiss village of Wengen has been a sought-after mountain getaway. Car-free yet located on a railway line, Wengen is the ideal place to enjoy the quiet…
The French town of Colmar—which is located in the Alsace region of France—is a dreamy village full of peaked roofs and placid canals. Starting in late November, Colmar hosts one of Europe’s most beloved Christmas markets. The Colmar market is divided into 6 distinct Christmas markets where visitors can sip on mulled wine, view a…
