Sintra, located just 40 minutes from Lisbon, feels like a world apart. Tucked into the hills of the Serra de Sintra, this town has drawn kings, poets, and explorers for centuries. It was once the summer retreat of Portuguese royalty, who left behind palaces and gardens that seem pulled from a storybook. The most famous, Palácio da Pena, is perched high above the town with bold red and yellow towers that blend Romanticism with Moorish and Gothic styles.
Fitzroy Island sits off the coast from Cairns in Queensland, Australia, rising from the Coral Sea with rainforest and beaches that draw visitors year-round. A short, scenic ferry ride from Cairns’ marlin marina brings visitors to this tropical island, part of the Fitzroy Island National Park where rainforest meets reef.
Lake Como, nestled in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, offers a sublime retreat with its stunning landscapes and elegant charm. Renowned for its crescent shape and crystal-clear waters, Lake Como is framed by lush hills and dramatic mountain scenery. The lake's picturesque towns, such as Bellagio and Varenna, showcase charming cobblestone streets, historic villas, and lush gardens.
Lalibela is the name of the township which King Lalibela, later canonized, ruled in the 12th century. At his command, eleven monolithic churches were hewn out of living rock. The churches are unique because they are not carved into rock but were freed from it entirely
Explore Jasper, Alberta and gaze in awe at one of Canada’s most beautiful national parks in the Canadian Rockies. A veritable paradise for the bold traveler, Jasper National Park has no shortage of natural marvels guaranteed to take your breath away.
Photo Credit: Photo by Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa on Unsplash
Doubtful Fjord (Doubtful Sound) is a large fjord in southwestern New Zealand, in the same region as the smaller but better known Milford Sound. It is home to an unusually large population of bottlenose dolphins, as well as a variety of birds, fur seals, penguins, and often even humpback whales.
Unlike Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound is inaccessible by road, so boat cruises are the only transportation available to visitors. Day trips operate out of the small nearby town, Manapouri.