Custer State Park, nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, offers a tapestry of natural beauty and wildlife. Known for its scenic drives and outdoor activities, the park is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. One of its most famous routes, the Needles Highway, weaves through towering granite spires and narrow tunnels, providing breathtaking vistas of the rugged terrain.

Uxmal, located about 80 kilometers south of Mérida in the Puuc region of Yucatán, is one of the most architecturally refined ancient Maya cities. Unlike other major Maya sites built with steep pyramids and narrow passageways, Uxmal is known for its smooth limestone structures, wide plazas, and intricate stone mosaics. One unique experience available to visitors is the nightly light and sound show, which uses colored projections to highlight carvings and narrate local legends and Maya cosmology.

Oviedo, the capital of Asturias in northern Spain, offers a rare mix of medieval heritage and everyday life that feels rooted rather than staged. The city’s historic center is home to some of the oldest pre-Romanesque buildings in Europe, including the UNESCO-listed Santa María del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillo. Cider, not wine, defines the local table. Oviedo is surrounded by apple orchards, and the traditional drink, sidra natural, is poured from a height by skilled escanciadores.

Basse-Terre, the western half of Guadeloupe, is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Dominated by the towering La Soufrière volcano, the island boasts lush rainforests, dramatic waterfalls, and black sand beaches.

Volcanoes National Park, in northwestern Rwanda, is a place where dramatic volcanic landscapes meet extraordinary wildlife encounters. Stretching across the Virunga Mountains, the park is dominated by five towering volcanoes whose slopes are cloaked in rainforest and bamboo.