New River Gorge National Park & Preserve in West Virginia has captured the attention of travelers with its rugged landscape and storied past. Established as a national park in 2020, this area was long known for its coal mining heritage and railroad history. Today, visitors can explore remnants of old mining towns and take in views from historic train trestles, all while experiencing some of the most dramatic river and canyon scenery in the eastern United States.
Oranjestad, Aruba’s colorful capital, blends Dutch colonial charm with the island’s easygoing Caribbean character. The city’s pastel-painted buildings, adorned with gables and decorative facades, recall its Dutch heritage while housing modern boutiques, cafés, and museums.
Taormina, with its hilltop location above the Ionian Sea, is easily one of Italy's most beautiful places. As it's packed with people in the summertime, recommended months to visit include April and September.
Suchitoto, located in the Cuscatlán department of El Salvador, is a hilltop town known for its cobblestone streets and scenic views of Lake Suchitlán. Once an important center for indigo production, the town still celebrates its dye-making history through artisan workshops where visitors can learn to create textiles using natural indigo. The name “Suchitoto” comes from the Nahuatl language and means “place of flowers and birds,” a nod to the area’s diverse birdlife and surrounding vegetation.
Minneapolis stands out with its unexpected blend of urban energy and freshwater calm. Built along the banks of the Mississippi River, the city has grown from a flour-milling powerhouse into a hub of creativity, design, and culture. At the heart of downtown, the Mill City Museum, housed inside the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, offers hands-on exhibits that bring Minneapolis’s industrial past to life. Just outside, the Stone Arch Bridge spans the river with sweeping views
Saskatoon, set along the South Saskatchewan River in central Canada, is a city where prairie heritage meets a growing cultural scene. Known as the “City of Bridges” for the many spans that cross its winding river, Saskatoon combines natural charm with urban vibrancy.
Photo Credit: Photo by Fermin Rodriguez Penelas on Unsplash
If summer means the beach to the inhabitants of Greater Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata is most often the beach they are thinking of. Situated on the northern Atlantic coast, 400km from the capital, beaches in this area sprawl for eight km, with sophisticated mansions (reflecting the area's upper-class origins) mingling with the new middle-class resorts. Sea lions keep an eye on the fishing activities around the wharves, and a replica of the grotto of Lourdes is a kitsch paradise.