This beautiful holy city is a spiritual lightning rod and sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians all over the world. Although Jerusalem is known primarily for its religious history, the city is also home to many artistic and cultural venues.

In the heart of South America, Ecuador offers a compact yet astonishingly diverse experience for travelers. From the cobbled streets of Quito’s historic center to the vibrant Afro-Ecuadorian rhythms of Esmeraldas, the country pulses with stories waiting to be discovered. Just a short drive away, visitors can stand on the equator line at the “Mitad del Mundo” and participate in engaging experiments that demonstrate the planet’s gravitational quirks.

Sigiriya, in central Sri Lanka, is an ancient rock fortress and one of the country’s most iconic archaeological sites. Rising nearly 200 meters from the surrounding plains, the massive granite column is crowned by the ruins of a royal palace built in the 5th century CE by King Kasyapa.

Columbus, city and seat of Muscogee County, western Georgia, a port at the head of the Chattahoochee River, opposite Phenix City, Alabama. Columbus is a regional transportation, trade, cultural, and manufacturing hub. Its many textile, food-processing, and metalworking industries are powered by hydroelectric plants on the Chattahoochee River.

El Nido is a coastal municipality in northern Palawan, Philippines, known for its limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoons, forested islands, and sheltered bays. The town sits at the northern end of the Palawan mainland, facing the Bacuit Archipelago, where numerous small islands rise from the sea. Its setting combines a compact seaside town with a large marine landscape that is explored mainly by boat.