Angkor Thom was the last great capital of the Khmer Empire, established in the late 12th century under King Jayavarman VII in what is now northwestern Cambodia. Enclosed by massive stone walls and a wide moat, the city was designed as both a political center and a sacred landscape, symbolizing the cosmic order of the Khmer worldview.
Bastia, located on the northeastern coast of Corsica, is a city where coastal scenery and centuries of history meet at every turn. Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, it serves as the island’s main port and a lively gateway for travelers arriving by ferry. Its old harbor, Vieux Port, is a highlight lined with tall, weathered houses in soft, faded colors, fishing boats bobbing in the water, and waterfront cafés that capture the steady rhythm of local life.
National Harbor is a waterfront development on the Potomac River in Prince George’s County, Maryland, just south of Washington, D.C. Built on a former industrial site, it has become a mixed-use destination with hotels, residences, restaurants, shops, offices, and public spaces arranged along the riverfront.
Xi’an, located in central China’s Shaanxi Province, served as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and was the capital of 13 imperial dynasties. Its long history is most famously represented by the Terracotta Army, an underground army of life-sized warriors discovered in 1974. Each figure has distinct facial features, hairstyles, and armor, designed to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.
The Brecon Beacons, officially known as Bannau Brycheiniog, rise through south-central Wales as a landscape shaped by myth, grazing, and long human presence.
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrea Huls Pareja on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrea Huls Pareja on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrea Huls Pareja on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Santa Cruz is in stark contrast to La Paz. Climate is tropical and altitude is only 1,250 feet. It is on the eastern lowland side of the Andes mountain range and one of the gateways to Bolivia's jungle area. Trinidad is the other. Much of Bolivia's natural resources, including agricultural products, are found in this area. Although Santa Cruz has grown tremendously some parts of downtown still retain a look of an Old West frontier town. Carnival is an especially happy time to be in Santa Cruz.
Other Popular Destinations in Bolivia
La Paz
La Paz, Bolivia’s seat of government, is one of the world’s highest capital cities, dramatically set in a deep canyon carved by the Choqueyapu River. Founded in 1548 atop an important Indigenous settlement, the city has long been a crossroads of Andean cultures, colonial history, and modern political life.
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca, perched at over 3,800 meters above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world and a place where ancient stories still echo across the water. Shared by Bolivia and Peru, this lake has long been considered sacred by the Andean peoples. According to Inca legend, it was from Titicaca’s deep blue waters that the first humans were created. Today, the lake remains a center of cultural tradition, spiritual significance, and daily life for many who live along its shores.