Madang, perched on the edge of Astrolabe Bay, feels like a well-kept secret of Papua New Guinea that’s framed by lush jungles and dotted with volcanic isles. Every June, Madang pulses with energy at the annual Madang Festival. Villages from across the province gather for ceremonies where dancers don feathered costumes, shells, and body paint. The beat of kundu drums rises through the air and stories woven in movement.
Fiji, a tropical haven in the heart of the South Pacific, is made up of over 330 islands, each with its own distinct character. The islands boast lush rainforests, soaring mountains, and white sandy beaches, offering a wide range of activities, from kayaking through calm lagoons and paddleboarding along scenic coastlines to zip-lining through lush rainforests and hiking across mountainous terrain.
The United Arab Emirates rolls history and invention into a seamless experience. In Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands out with its reflective pools, marble columns inlaid with floral patterns, and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet beneath domes that glow by night. On Saadiyat Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi shelters art that spans civilizations, all beneath a dome designed to scatter sunlight like palm fronds.
Springdale, Utah sits at the entrance to Zion Canyon, serving as the gateway to one of the most striking landscapes in the American Southwest. The town stretches along a scenic road framed by red rock cliffs that rise sharply on either side, creating a setting that feels closely tied to the land around it. Visitors often find that even a simple walk through town offers uninterrupted views of sandstone formations that shift in color throughout the day, from pale orange to deep red.