Gainesville is a north-central Florida city known for its university community, natural areas, and strong connection to education and research. The city is home to the University of Florida, whose campus is a major part of local life and culture. Gainesville is surrounded by rolling terrain, freshwater springs, forests, and wetlands, giving it a landscape that differs from Florida’s coastal cities.
Évora, in Portugal’s Alentejo region, feels like stepping into a story that spans more than two thousand years. Its Historic Centre was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason with its ancient walls, homes with wrought-iron balconies, and narrow streets quietly preserve traces of Roman, Moorish, and medieval life. Beyond architecture and monuments, Évora reveals lesser-known treasures that reward exploration.
Alton is a small town in central New Hampshire, located at the southern end of Lake Winnipesaukee. Its landscape includes forested hills, wetlands, streams, and shoreline communities surrounding Alton Bay and the lake’s numerous islands. The town center lies inland from the main lakefront, while Alton Bay forms a historic summer community and transportation point. Mount Major rises nearby, providing a prominent backdrop and a popular hiking destination.
Gijón sits on Spain’s northern coast in Asturias, shaped by its long relationship with the Cantabrian Sea. From its origins as a Roman settlement to its later growth as an industrial and port city, Gijón has balanced maritime work with civic life.
Gabon, located on the west coast of Central Africa, is a country of lush rainforests, vast savannas, and a pristine Atlantic coastline. Despite its small population, it is home to remarkable biodiversity, including gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants, and countless bird species. National parks such as Loango and Ivindo protect these habitats, offering visitors a chance to experience Africa’s wildlife in relatively untouched landscapes.
Photo Credit: Photo by Sharissa Johnson on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Michael Olsen on Unsplash
Together with neighboring Glacier National Park in the United States, Waterton Lakes National Park is part of the world's first international Peace Park, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1955. The Waterton-Glacier Peace Park protects an important biological crossroads where the Rocky Mountains reach their narrowest width. Waterton's bedrock is much older than that of the mountains to the north found in Jasper and Banff. From a peak attendance of more than 600,000, Waterton Lakes National Park today receives about 350,000 visitors annually. There are boat rentals and stables, an 18-hole golf course, and a cruise to Goat Haunt Visitor Centre in Montana. And for the traditionalists, there are over 250 kilometres of hiking trails that range from short strolls to multi-day backpacking adventures.
Other Popular Destinations in Alberta
Banff
Banff, nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, is one of Canada’s most celebrated mountain towns and a gateway to Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Jasper
Explore Jasper, Alberta and gaze in awe at one of Canada’s most beautiful national parks in the Canadian Rockies. A veritable paradise for the bold traveler, Jasper National Park has no shortage of natural marvels guaranteed to take your breath away.