Leros Island, Greece, rests quietly in the Aegean Sea, offering a combination of sun-drenched beaches and historical landmarks that invite exploration. The main town, Agia Marina, spreads along a natural harbor, where fishing boats and small yachts sway gently against the backdrop of colorful houses climbing the hillside. Winding streets reveal a mix of architecture, from traditional whitewashed homes to neoclassical buildings.
In ancient times, Kaanapali was a royal retreat for the rulers of Maui, who delighted in the perfect three-mile stretch of white sand beach, the gentle waves, warm sunny days and the majestic West Maui Mountains. Maui royalty surfed, raced their outrigger canoes, feasted at luaus that lasted for weeks, and where the Kaanapali Golf Course now blankets the land, they played ulu maika, a form of lawn bowling with heavy lava balls.
Tozeur is an oasis city in southwestern Tunisia, located on the northern edge of the Sahara near the vast salt lake of Chott el-Jerid. Its extensive date-palm groves create a green belt around a city otherwise surrounded by dry plains and desert landscapes. Tozeur is especially recognized for its distinctive brick architecture, with geometric patterns formed from small, locally made bricks decorating walls and gateways.
Charlestown is the historic capital of Nevis, located on the island’s west coast beside the Caribbean Sea. The compact town retains much of its Georgian-era layout, with low stone buildings, wooden houses, narrow streets, and a waterfront facing Saint Kitts across The Narrows. Charlestown also serves as an important ferry and water-taxi arrival point, connecting Nevis with neighbouring islands.
Van Buren is a historic river city in western Arkansas, situated along the Arkansas River near the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Its location has long connected the community with river travel, railroads, and routes through the Arkansas River Valley. Downtown Van Buren is particularly distinctive, with six blocks of restored buildings forming the Main Street National Historic District.
Adiyaman makes a good base from which to visit Nemrut Dagi National Park. On the summit of Nemrut Daagi (Mount Nemrut), at an altitude of 2,150 meters- the highest mountain in northern mesopotamia - sits the gigantic funerary sunctuary erected in the first century B.C. by King Antiochos I of Commagene. The engineering involved in creating the artificial tumulus- flanked by terraces on which rest the colossal statues of Apollo, Zeus, Heracles, Tyche and Antiochus - continue to amaze visitors.
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.
Çanakkale
The city of Canakkale lies at the narrow, 1,200 meter entrance to the Canakkale Strait that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. To honor the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), the peninsula was made into Gelibou Historical National Park.