Cartagena is a port city on Spain’s southeastern Mediterranean coast, in the Region of Murcia, where a sheltered harbor is surrounded by hills and historic neighborhoods. Its strategic position has made it an important maritime center for successive civilizations, leaving an unusually rich archaeological and architectural landscape. The modern city combines a busy waterfront with a compact historic center, where Roman remains stand alongside military buildings and modernist architecture.
Rathlin Island is Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island, lying about six miles from the County Antrim coast across the Sea of Moyle. Its small community is centered around a harbor on the southern side, while much of the island consists of farmland, open hills, rocky shorelines, and sea cliffs. Rathlin has a notably remote character despite its short ferry journey from Ballycastle.
Bilbao’s unique blend of modern architecture, rich history, and natural beauty makes it a destination like no other. Whether you’re exploring cutting-edge art, savoring Basque cuisine, or simply soaking in the stunning scenery, Bilbao offers an experience that will captivate your senses and leave you wanting more.
The Belize Barrier Reef is a long coral reef system along the Caribbean coast of Belize, forming part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. It extends for much of the country’s coastline and includes hundreds of cayes, mangrove islands, lagoons, seagrass beds, and offshore reef formations. The reef lies close to several coastal communities, including San Pedro, Placencia, and Dangriga, providing an important setting for fishing, tourism, and marine research.
São Tomé & Príncipe, a two-island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, is one of Africa’s smallest yet most captivating destinations. Known for its unspoiled landscapes, it offers lush rainforests, volcanic peaks, and secluded beaches.
Photo Credit: Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
Collioure, just before the Spanish border, aims its charms at its own people. It's the ideal small town-without-the-glitz antidote to condo city Riviera. Like an ice cream shop, Collioure offers 31 flavors of pastel houses and six petite scooped-out beach-sprinkled lightly with beachgoers. This sweet scene, capped by Collioure's winking lighthouse, sits under a once-mighty castle in the shade of the Pyrenees. The ambience of Collioure is what was so charming about the Cote d'Azur back before the introduction of the paid vacation turned the Riviera into France's holiday beach.
Other Popular Destinations in France
Paris
France's capital and most populated city, Paris is an alluring destination and an essential stop for any global traveler. A center of fashion, gastronomy, and the arts. Major tourist attractions in the City of Lights include the Eiffel Tower (such great heights!), the Louvre (home of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo), the Arc de Triomphe, and Grand Palais.
Strasbourg
This vibrant and picturesque city sits near the German border and is the 2nd most popular tourist city in France. Its historic city center is classified a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the Stasbourg Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture.