Dominica: Nature Island of the Caribbean
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Dominica: Nature Island of the Caribbean

Lush, volcanic and undisturbed, Dominica is the Caribbean’s ultimate off‑grid destination for those who crave raw nature over resorts. Hike through emerald rainforests, soak in natural hot springs and snorkel pristine coral reefs teeming with marine life. Dominica promises immersive adventure, wildlife encounters and restorative solitude. Pack sturdy boots, a sense of curiosity and leave your itinerary flexible — the island rewards exploration.

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Nantes Uncovered: Secrets of the Dukes’ City
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Nantes Uncovered: Secrets of the Dukes’ City

Nantes — spirited and audacious — marries a storied past with a fresh, creative pulse. Once a bustling seaport with a painful link to the slave trade, the city keeps those memories close while continually transforming: a refined art of living, imaginative cultural ventures and renewed neighborhoods where history and innovation meet on every corner.

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Mirissa Whale Watching: Up Close with Ocean Giants
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Mirissa Whale Watching: Up Close with Ocean Giants

Mirissa, a sun-drenched jewel on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, pulses with a laid-back energy. Golden beaches curve into sparkling waters where surfers carve gentle waves by day and the shoreline comes alive with cozy bars and music after dark. It’s the perfect springboard for exploring the storied ramparts of Galle Fort and the deep blue nearby plays host to unforgettable whale and dolphin excursions — sea-spray mornings that feel made for stories.

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Chiloé Island: Land of Myth & Sea
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Chiloé Island: Land of Myth & Sea

Sitting off Chile’s rugged west coast, Chiloé Island is the archipelago’s largest jewel—a place where folklore breathes through colorful myths and weathered wooden churches rise like stories carved in timber. Here, houses perch on stilts above the tides, fields hold heirloom potatoes in astonishing variety and a patchwork of forests, wetlands and coastline shelters wildlife at every turn. Chiloé feels less like a destination and more like a living tale, where tradition and nature mingle in quietly unforgettable ways.

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Coconut Island: Saint Martin’s French Paradise
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Coconut Island: Saint Martin’s French Paradise

An island with a delightful split personality: Sint Maarten on the Dutch side and Saint Martin on the French. Up north, French flair reigns—charming cafés, exquisite cuisine and a relaxed, romantic pace. Tucked between verdant hills you’ll find secret beaches, sweeping mountain panoramas and historic hilltop forts like Fort Louis overlooking Marigot, the island’s graceful capital.

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Cardiff’s City of Arcades
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Cardiff’s City of Arcades

Cardiff wears its history like a well-loved coat — familiar, textured and full of stories. As Wales’s capital, the city hums with a lively cultural pulse but it’s the arcades that steal the show: winding rows of Victorian and Edwardian glass-roofed alleys, each one a little world of independent shops, vintage finds and cozy cafés. They’ve earned Cardiff the affectionate nickname “City of Arcades” and wandering them feels like stepping into a gentle, bygone era. At the heart of it all, Cardiff Castle rises—a stony silhouette against the sky—reminding you that past and present here are always in good company.

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Atacama’s Valley of the Moon
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Atacama’s Valley of the Moon

Eight miles west of San Pedro de Atacama, in the heart of the Atacama Desert, unfolds the enchanting Valley of the Moon. Part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve and declared a Nature Sanctuary in 1982, this spot offers a unique lunar landscape: rock formations and sand dunes patiently shaped by wind and water, as if time had carved a secret planet under the northern Chilean sun.

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Antigua: Land of 365 Beaches
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Antigua: Land of 365 Beaches

With a gorgeous beach for every day of the year, tortoise sanctuaries and loads of succulent seafood, Antigua & Barbuda is truly a hidden gem. The island offers endless amounts of sunbathing, swimming and water sports but still feels quaint and untouched. It also has rich British history as a British naval headquarters and sugar colony.

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Stargaze in the Heart of Atacama Desert
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Stargaze in the Heart of Atacama Desert

Chile’s Atacama Desert is said to be one of the best places in the world for stargazing because of its extremely dry climate, high altitude, minimal light pollution and near absence of humidity, creating crystal clear skies with perfect visibility of stars and constellations.

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Plitviče Lakes National Park
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Plitviče Lakes National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of Croatia since 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park is known for its picturesque series of tufa lakes, caves, canyons and connected waterfalls that reach over 250 feet high. The emerald green lakes can be explored via a series of wooden paths and trails that surround the 16 lakes and over 90 waterfalls.

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Tikal’s Ancient Maya Civilization
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Tikal’s Ancient Maya Civilization

In the heart of the Guatemalan jungle, surrounded by lush vegetation, lies the ruins of an ancient Mayan civilization, inhabited from the 6th century BC to the 10th century AD. The ceremonial center is home to massive temples, palaces and public squares accessed by ramps.

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Morocco’s Atlas Mountains
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Morocco’s Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains extend some 1,500 miles across northwestern Africa and are dotted with Berber villages and deep canyons and ravines, home to local families who are self-sustaining, producing goods like homemade butter and fresh bread. From Marrakesh, the mountains can be reached within an hour.

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El Tatio Geysers
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El Tatio Geysers

El Tatio is the third-largest geyser field in the world and largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s located in the Andes Mountains of northern Chile more than 14,000 feet above sea level. This geothermal field boasts over 80 geysers that spew steam and boiling water best witnessed in the early morning.

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Croatian Islands
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Croatian Islands

Historically known as Spalato, Split is the largest city in both Dalmatia and on the Croatian coast. It lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and is a perfect jumping off point for exploring the surrounding islands and coves. Of which, some of the best include Blue Cave, Stiniva Cove, Budikovac and Hvar.

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Indigenous Villages of Antigua
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Indigenous Villages of Antigua

Antigua's surrounding villages honor a rich cultural heritage with production of macadamia nuts, local textiles and authentic Guatemalan fare. Slow down and explore off the beaten path in Antigua’s indigenous villages.

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Charming Seaside Town of Tenby
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Charming Seaside Town of Tenby

Surrounded by 13th century town walls, the sleepy harbor town of Tenby, Wales is home to stretches of sandy beaches overlooked by ruins of Tenby Castle and the Tenby Museum and Art Gallery.

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Dalmatian Seaside City of Split
Travels Jessica Knowlden Travels Jessica Knowlden

Dalmatian Seaside City of Split

Croatia's second largest city, Split is a Dalmatian seaside town brimming with Roman ruins and natural splendor. This Mediterranean paradise is also the perfect jumping off point to island hop or explore nearby beaches and hidden caves.

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