France’s city of Reims, located in the heart of the Champagne region, is a place where history and celebration meet. Known for its towering cathedral, Reims played a central role in French royal tradition. Nearly every French king was crowned at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that still dominates the skyline. The cathedral’s intricate facade and famous stained-glass window continue to draw visitors from around the world.

Kampot is a riverside town in southern Cambodia with a story that stretches from a bustling 19th-century seaport to a calm center for travelers seeking real local experiences. Wandering these streets reveals faded pastel facades, shuttered balconies, and hints of a past where merchants from China, Malaysia, and Europe met on this quiet stretch of the Cambodian coast.

Dambulla, situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, is best known for its rock temple complex that has been in use for over two thousand years. The Dambulla Cave Temple, also called the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is made up of five caves carved into a granite outcrop, filled with over 150 Buddha statues and intricate wall paintings. These caves were first used by King Valagamba in the 1st century BCE as a refuge during exile, and later transformed into a sacred site.

Tennessee welcomes visitors with a rhythm that shifts from Appalachian mountain towns to Memphis blues clubs, all while telling stories that have shaped the American experience. In East Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, known for its mist-covered peaks, preserved log cabins, and seasonal displays of wildflowers and fireflies.

Originating as a tiny fishing village in 1038, modern Kehl has become an important link between Germany and France. Rhine River cruises most often use Kehl as their gateway to the much larger and better-known Strasbourg. The savvy traveler, though, might choose to skip the jaunt across the river and enjoy many similar sights, shopping and cuisine as those offered in the teeming French city.