Mdina is a fortified hilltop city in central Malta, known as the Silent City for its quiet streets and enclosed historic character. The former capital occupies a limestone plateau above the surrounding countryside, with massive walls, narrow lanes, small squares, and honey-colored buildings creating a compact urban landscape. The main entrance leads toward Villegaignon Street and the center of the old city, where St Paul’s Cathedral dominates Cathedral Square.
Arecibo is a coastal municipality on the north coast of Puerto Rico, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the island’s northern karst region. It is known for a varied landscape of beaches, limestone hills, caves, sinkholes, forests, and rivers, including the Río Grande de Arecibo and Río Tanamá.
Alter do Chão is a riverside village in the Brazilian state of Pará, on the banks of the clear Tapajós River. Though part of the larger municipality of Santarém, Alter do Chão has its own rhythm and identity, known far beyond Brazil for the white-sand beaches that appear when river levels drop between July and December. One of the most famous spots is Ilha do Amor (Love Island), a sandbar just off the village shore that feels almost like a hidden world of warm water and bright sky.
Milford Sound, located in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, is often described as one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the country. Carved by glaciers during the Ice Age, the fjord is framed by sheer cliffs that plunge into deep waters, with iconic peaks like Mitre Peak rising dramatically above the sound.
Wismar is a historic port city on Germany’s Baltic coast in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Its old town is known for a remarkably well-preserved medieval street plan, large brick churches, merchant houses, and a harbor connected to the Baltic Sea. The city’s architecture reflects its former importance within the Hanseatic trading network, while the waterfront continues to support maritime activity.
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Harbor seals
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Fan Tan Alley
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British influences are quite evident in Victoria, from afternoon tea times to elegant Victorian architecture. This capital of British Columbia on Vancouver Island provides ample outdoor recreation, with its public parks and access to both the ocean and wilderness. Cyclists will be right at home here, as Victoria boasts a seemingly endless number of bike paths for exploring. Additional must-do's here include tours of Craigdarroch Castle and Fisherman's Wharf Park, a floating pier where tourists can eat and watch seals. Another excellent option is the Royal BC Museum, a natural and human history complex holding 7 million objects.
Other Popular Destinations in British Columbia
Vancouver
This vibrant, diverse British Columbia seaport is one of the jewels of Canada. Surrounded by ocean and mountains alike, Vancouver offers breathtaking vistas, not to mention world-class outdoor activities, culinary delights, fine art, and cultural events.
Kamloops
Kamloops, located in the interior of British Columbia, sits at the meeting point of the North and South Thompson Rivers. The name comes from the Secwépemc word “Tk’emlúps,” meaning "where the rivers meet," and the area has been a gathering place for Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Today, visitors can explore this rich cultural heritage at the Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park, where trails lead through archaeological sites and reconstructed pit houses.