Bahrain, the only island nation in the Arabian Gulf, offers a unique blend of ancient heritage and modern flair. Away from the city, Bahrain’s landscape surprises many. The Tree of Life, a lone 400-year-old mesquite standing in the desert with no known water source, continues to puzzle scientists and inspire travelers.
Rhinebeck is a village in Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley, set among rolling farmland, wooded hills, and communities along the eastern side of the Hudson River. Its compact center is known for historic buildings, independent shops, restaurants, galleries, and the long-established Beekman Arms. The surrounding town extends toward the river through rural landscapes and the hamlet of Rhinecliff, where rail service connects the area with destinations along the Hudson.
Dartmoor National Park sits in the heart of Devon, England, and invites travelers to step into a landscape that has changed little over thousands of years. Rolling moorland, deep river valleys, and more than 450 miles of paths give visitors space to explore at their own pace. Ancient stone rows, circular dwellings, and burial cairns spread across the moorland are reminders of people who lived here as far back as the Bronze Age.
Roses is a coastal town in Catalonia’s Alt Empordà, positioned at the eastern edge of the Iberian Peninsula where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean. Its broad bay opens toward the Cap de Creus peninsula, giving the town a landscape of beaches, rocky headlands, and low coastal hills. Roses has a strong maritime identity, with a fishing port operating alongside a marina and a long seafront promenade.
Komodo National Park is a natural wonder, home to the world’s largest lizards, breathtaking pink sand beaches, and colorful coral reefs. Trek through rugged landscapes to spot Komodo dragons in the wild or dive alongside graceful manta rays and colorful fish. With jagged hills rising from turquoise waters, the park offers an unforgettable adventure that feels truly otherworldly.
Photo Credit: Photo by Cemrecan Yurtman on Unsplash
An Eastern city of Turkey, known in ancient times as Amida, spreads across a basalt plateau close to the banks of the Dicle River. The black basalt triple walls which encircle the old town give the city a rather ominous appearance.
Other Popular Destinations in Turkey
Istanbul
Istanbul is a city built on layers of empire. Spanning two continents, it was once the capital of three major empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Visitors walking through the Sultanahmet district can witness this timeline firsthand, from the Roman-era Hippodrome to the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia, and the towering minarets of the Blue Mosque. At nearby Topkapi Palace, rooms still display the jeweled swords, ceremonial robes, and handwritten Qurans once used by Ottoman sultans.
Cappadocia
The ancient region of Cappadocia lies in Central Anatolia, between the cities of Nevsehir, Kayseri and Nigde. Here, the traveler finds one of the most fantastic landscapes in the world. Wind and weather have eroded the soft volcanic rock with hundreds of strangely shaped pillars, cones and "fairy chimneys", often very tall, and in every shade from pink through yellow to russet browns.