Udawalawe National Park, located in southern Sri Lanka, is one of the country’s best places to see wild elephants in their natural environment. Established in 1972, the park protects an important watershed area around the Udawalawe Reservoir and provides a sanctuary for hundreds of elephants, which can often be seen roaming in herds across the open grasslands.

Replete with windmills and old-world charm, the village of Kinderdijk lies east of Rotterdam on the Lek River and is a popular stop for European river cruises. Home to the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands, Kinderdijk was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Dominica, known as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” is a haven for eco-tourists and adventure seekers. Nestled between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, this lush island boasts a remarkable landscape of volcanic mountains, dense rainforests, and stunning waterfalls. Dominica’s most iconic natural wonder is the Boiling Lake, the second-largest hot spring in the world.

Khasab stands at the edge of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, where rocky inlets carve into the land like desert fjords and earning it the nickname "Norway of Arabia." A short dhow ride uncovers soaring cliffs and narrow waterways, often mirrored by pods of dolphins gliding beside the wooden vessel. These traditional dhows, used for centuries by traders, now carry visitors into those coastal arms for snorkeling, swimming, and quiet reflection.

This is the most Moorish part of Portugal, the rich plain south of the Serra do Caldeirao, scalloped by the beaches and headlands of the Algarve. It is where, in early spring, blossoming almond trees carpet the still-brown hillsides with drifts of snow-like flowers, and the plain white facades of little houses are topped by intricately pierced chimneys that look like ice-cream cones.

Niagara Falls, New York, is home to one of the most powerful natural spectacles in North America. More than 3,000 tons of water pour over the edge every second, creating a thunderous roar and a rising mist that can be felt from blocks away. Visitors can stand just feet from the American Falls at Prospect Point or take the iconic Maid of the Mist boat tour, which has operated since 1846 and now features all-electric vessels.