Travel Packages All Inclusive from our Advisors
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The undisputed windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of the Caribbean, Cabarete, Dominican Republic, a pleasant and vibrant north-coast resort, is also the Dominican Republic's liveliest resort by night. It draws a more eclectic crowd than other resorts, including a large contingent of backpackers an...
Overview Introduction This province, separated from the rest of Angola by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a major source of the nation's wealth. Most of Angola's developed oil fields are off the Cabinda coast. The province, covered by a tropical rain forest, is interesting mainly because...
Located on the southwestern tip of the island about 35 mi/56 km west of Ponce, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, has beautiful seascapes and the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge has a visitors center and interpretive displays as well as bird-watching trails. The nearby fishing villages of El Co...
In a land known for its inexpensive travel destinations, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, is one of the priciest—and one of the most popular—as travelers are willing to pay handsomely for what the area has to offer: fine beaches, world-class restaurants, sumptuous resorts, excellent golf courses, lively nig...
The Cabot Trail circles the northern reaches of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, passing through rocky highlands that drop to the sea and fragrant forests sprinkled with wildflowers. Its highlight, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, truly can't be missed, since the Cabot Trail runs directly throug...
Situated on a volcanic peninsula on the northwest coast of Dominica, 2 mi/3 km north of Portsmouth, the Cabrits National Park comprises two dry forest-covered peaks and, where they connect to the mainland, the island's largest swamp. Visitors can easily spend all day in the park, which can only be ...
Caceres is an often overlooked gem whose cultural and architectural attractions come close to comparison with those of better-known classic cities like Granada and Toledo. It's located in Spain's westerly province of Extremadura, from where Spain's leading conquistadores (Pizarro, Cortez) set of...
This whitewashed coastal gem looks more Andaluz than Catalan. Seen from the sea, dominated by its central church, it gleams like a reverse silhouette against a backdrop of dark slate-y terraced slopes dotted with silver-green olive trees. The town is filled with home-y cafes, art galleries and chic ...
On the southern tip of Spain and approximately 305 mi/490 km southwest of Madrid, the port city of Cadiz (pronounced CA-deeth ) has been active since 1100 BC. During the days of the Roman Empire, its dancers were famous throughout the Mediterranean region. In the 18th century, Cadiz monopolized tra...
Unlike its neighbor Bayeux, Caen did not emerge from World War II unscathed. Modern Caen stands out from other Norman cities thanks to its architecture, which tends to be much more contemporary than that of Bayeux. That being said, Caen does still have a very long history, and evidence of its past ...
Caernarfon, Wales, is one of the most Welsh of Welsh cities. This walled town is a place where visitors can still hear spoken Welsh. Caernarfon also has close royal connections—it was there that Edward I's son was made the first Prince of Wales in 1301. Charles, the current Prince of Wales, became...
Founded by King Herod around 25 BC to 13 BC to honor Caesar Augustus, the ancient town of Caesarea, Israel, served as the capital of the Roman province for nearly 600 years. Caesarea, located 55 mi/85 km northwest of Jerusalem on the Mediterranean Sea, is also where Peter baptized the first Gentile ...
The elevated pueblo of Cafayate, Argentina—725 mi/1,165 km northwest of Buenos Aires and popular with Argentine tourists as well as an increasing number of international visitors—is set in the middle of a wine-producing region. In Cafayate, visitors can tour the archaeological museum or the wine mus...
Hundreds of years before the first Europeans arrived, approximately 20,000 people lived at Cahokia, the center of ancient Mississippian culture. Located 255 mi/410 km southwest of Chicago, the city covered 6 sq mi/16 sq km in the alluvial valley of the Mississippi River (near present-day Collinsvill...
Created to protect one of Costa Rica's three coral reefs on the Caribbean coast, Cahuita National Park has a black-sand beach lined with palm trees. There is also a nature trail in the park that runs through the lowland rain forest and provides opportunities for viewing birds and other wildlife, inc...
If you go to explore the Great Barrier Reef or Queensland's rain forests, chances are you'll wind up in Cairns, a tropical city on Australia's far northeastern coast 1,220 mi/1,965 km north of Sydney and 863 mi/1,390 km north of the state capital, Brisbane. Once a sleepy fishing village, Cairns se...
Cairo, Egypt, has been called "the mother of the world," "city of a thousand minarets" and "city of victory." Visitors will find it to be a fascinating, intense and often bewildering mixture of old and new. Cairo businesspeople in suits and locals in traditional robes can both be found at sidewalk ...
The town of Cajamarca, 360 mi/580 km northwest of Lima, attracts travelers who are interested in the history of the Spanish conquest of Peru, who would like to soak in a historic thermal bath or who are looking for an Andean city that doesn't have the tourism hoopla of Cusco. In 1532, the army of ...
This driving excursion takes you southeast out of Santiago along a narrow mountain road that winds up the north edge of the Maipo River Canyon into the high Andes. As you climb toward the mountains and the border with Argentina, the landscapes become more dramatic; the pavement ends at Romeral, bu...
Calabar, Nigeria, is one of the country's oldest trading cities, and a place where few tourists go. It's a pity, as Calabar is one of our favorite places in Nigeria. Set on a hill overlooking the Calabar River, it is as picturesque as the country gets, and it has a friendly, relaxing atmosphere. The...
In the heart of the Atacama Desert, 976 mi/1,574 km north of Santiago, the drab mining town of Calama, Chile, depends on one of the world's largest open-pit copper mines (the mine itself is 10 mi/16 km away, in Chuquicamata) to keep its economy going. It's also a gateway to the archaeological, cultu...
Calgary stands confidently on the spacious plains of southern Alberta. Blocks of mirrored skyscrapers make the city look new, which it is: Most of downtown has been built in the past few decades. The city's major businesses are in keeping with this modern image—oil, gas and high technology. But t...
Calhoun is 65 mi/105 km northwest of Atlanta.The New Echota State Historic Site commemorates the short-lived but valiant effort of the Cherokee Nation to form its own government in 1825, one that would exist side by side with the still-young U.S. for a time. The site includes restored buildings from...
The industrial city of Cali, Colombia, is best-known in foreign minds as the country's capital of salsa dancing and cocaine, although the notorious Cali cartel was destroyed by the government a decade ago. Also the center of sugar production and the country's third largest city, Cali is rich in at...
California is not the promised land, but it sure has fooled a lot of people into thinking that it is. Gold-rush prospectors, dust-bowl refugees, Midwesterners brainwashed by surf songs, aspiring actors trying to make it big in Hollywood—they've all looked on the state as a paradise where their dream...
The district of Callao stretches along the coast to the west of Lima and contains Lima's principal airport, Jorge Chavez International Airport, and the city's main port. The main tourist attractions in Callao are the fortress, Fortaleza Real Felipe, which was built by the Spanish to protect nearby...
This beautiful resort in western Georgia offers 2,500 acres/1,000 hectares of green meadows, rolling hills, lakes, flowers and woodlands. Boating, diving, fishing, golfing and swimming are among the activities. The Azalea Trail has 700 varieties of the flowering shrubs. One of Callaway Gardens' most...
Calvi is a small port town located on a large bay on the northwest coast of Corsica. The town's sandy beaches are increasingly popular with tourists, and the area is becoming a vivacious holiday resort town. If you're looking for a hike while you're there, visit the citadel that perches on the hillt...
This charming, albeit decayed, Spanish colonial city 300 mi/485 km southeast of Havana, has several restored plazas of exquisite historic charm. Camaguey is the third-largest city in Cuba and is associated with early revolutionary Ignacio Agramonte, who led unsuccessful revolts against the Spanish i...
Travelers to Cambodia should best proceed directly to Angkor to explore a selection of the fabulous Khmer temples there. After years of external and internal war, Cambodia now has a tenuous measure of stability. Cambodia still faces severe economic difficulties (international aid is helping to bu...
Cambridge, England, is a picturesque town, built where an ancient bridge crossed the River Cam (Cam-Bridge). Located 50 mi/80 km north of London, Cambridge is best known for its university, which was founded in the 13th century. While in town, meander among the old stone university buildings, stop...
Located 55 mi/90 km southeast of Baltimore on the Eastern Shore's Choptank River, Cambridge, Maryland, has several sights that are worth a stop. The Brannock Maritime Museum has an impressive model ship collection, and the Harriet Tubman Museum (open by appointment) honors the famous black abolit...
Camden, Maine, a seaside town 85 mi/135 km northeast of Portland, has everything the perfect New England seaside town is supposed to have: 19th-century architecture that is home to a wide variety of shops, galleries and restaurants; and a harbor that is busy with graceful sailboats, sleek yachts an...
This city on the Delaware River, just across the water from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has long had a reputation for slums and decay, but it offers several reasons to visit, especially with children. Adventure Aquarium has the largest seal exhibit in the country, and its Ocean Base Atlantic—a 760,0...
During the Revolutionary War, Camden, South Carolina, saw more than a dozen battles. The peace has long since been restored—the thundering hooves you hear in the area come not from the cavalry but from the polo field. Located 35 mi/55 km northeast of Columbia, Camden is an equestrian's playground,...
About 135 mi/220 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands is a wonderful place to escape the heat and to experience Malaysia's lush interior—it has one of the finest climates in all of Southeast Asia, which is one of the reasons it became the most important hill-station retreat during British...
Overview Introduction Cameroon is often referred to as "Africa in miniature" because in many ways it is a microcosm of the continent: It has mountains, volcanic highlands, coastal plains, jungle rivers, rain forest and savanna. Its jagged boundaries, drawn up arbitrarily by German colonizers duri...
The town of Camlihemsin, Turkey, 260 mi/420 km northeast of Ankara, is the last outpost before the dramatic Kackar Mountains, a wild range beloved by Turkish trekkers and mountaineers and increasingly popular with outdoor tourists from all over the world. The region is distinctive in dialect and d...
Campeche, a small city on the gulf shores of the Yucatan Peninsula about 100 mi/160 km southwest of Merida, was founded by the Spanish in 1540 on the site of an ancient village—the Maya called it "The Land of Serpents and Ticks." The city became a wealthy colonial port, which attracted the attenti...
This island 185 mi/300 km northeast of Portland is best known as the summer home of former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It's actually a part of New Brunswick, Canada, but the Roosevelt International Park is controlled and administered by a joint Canadian-U.S. commission. The park preserves ...
A sense of immensity pervades any cross-country tour of Canada. Slightly more than 37 million people live in a vast space of 3,855,102 sq mi/9,984,670 sq km. About a third of the population lives in three major cities—Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal—which are all perched along the southern border wi...
Overview Introduction Constructed by French colonists 100 mi/160 km east of Antananarivo, the Canal des Pangalanes connects a series of lakes and rivers running along Madagascar's eastern shore and serves as a transport artery for villagers living along its banks. You'll see vanilla plants, cinna...
Spain's seven Canary Islands—Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Hierro, La Palma and Tenerife—all boast a fair, springlike climate year-round. Visitors flock to the islands' casinos, golf courses, tennis courts and natural wonders, including fairly good beaches of white, gold and bla...
In 1908, the government of Australia picked a spot 155 mi/250 km southwest of Sydney, named it Canberra and declared that it would be the nation's capital. The compromise site was chosen as it was between Sydney (170 mi/274 to the northeast) and Melbourne (410 mi/660 km to the southwest), the two d...
Cancun, Mexico, is wrapped in crystal clear water and brilliant sunshine, so it's no wonder its shoreline gets top billing. Government developers, looking for a way to eradicate the poverty of the region, created this comfortable resort area on the Mexican Caribbean from the sand up to take advanta...
Located 30 mi/45 km northeast of Denpasar, Candidasa had a beach when its first hotels were built. Unfortunately, further construction led to the mining of the reef offshore to make concrete, which allowed the waves to come in and wash away the beach. What good is a beach resort without a beach, you...
Canmore, a former sleepy mining town turned robust community, is a recreational paradise. It's a straight shot west of Calgary via the Trans-Canada Highway, one hour from the city and 90 minutes from the international airport. In winter, the splendid cross-country trails developed for the 2010 Oly...
Every May, people jam the scenic town of Cannes, France, for its internationally renowned film festival, but that's far from the only time to visit this Cote d'Azur destination. Cannes offers mild weather year-round and a number of attractions to see, though bear in mind that many of Cannes' shoppin...
Cannon Beach, Oregon, is a gorgeous beach located about 75 mi/120 km from Portland. It is best known for Haystack Rock, which juts up from the ocean and provides a magnificent view and photo opportunity Visitors to Cannon Beach will often be rewarded with whale sightings. In addition to the beach i...
A haven for birds and wildlife, Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge is located in north-central Costa Rica, 120 mi/195 km northwest of San Jose. The best way to see it is from the water—narrow boats leave from Los Chiles near the Nicaraguan border for an enchanting trip down the Rio Frio. Shorebir...
Located 25 mi/40 km south of St. Vincent, Canouan Island in the Grenadines is a good place to drop anchor for a while, whether you're on a yacht or just looking for a nice spot for your vacation landfall. Aside from two resorts, Canouan remains nearly untouched. Unlike some of the other islands in ...
The 2,000-year-old city of Canterbury, England, is most famous for its magnificent 11th-century cathedral where Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170. His tomb and the cathedral have for centuries attracted pilgrims and travelers, including characters immortalized in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales . M...
An excellent day trip 55 mi/90 km south from Cleveland, Canton is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one of Ohio's most popular attractions. Housed in a vaguely football-shaped structure (designed by the highly influential architectural firm of Venturi, Rauch, Scott and Brown), the Hall of Fame ...
Headquartered at the small town of Chinle on the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona, the Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Canyon duh-SHAY ) National Monument definitely merits a one-day visit. It was there that the Navajos surrendered to Kit Carson in 1864, after which they endured their trai...
Set in southeastern Utah in the heart of the Colorado Plateau, Canyonlands National Park, near Moab (230 mi/320 km southeast of Salt Lake City) encompasses the confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers and the breathtaking canyons that were created when the rivers eroded the plateau. Those seeking...
Known in the 1600s as the "Pearl of the Antilles," Cap Haitien (pop. 133,000) is where Columbus celebrated the first Christmas in the New World. Cap Haitien is a port and fishing village. Although the beaches in town are not suitable for swimming because of the port facilities, some of Haiti's fines...
The main draw of the coastal Cap Skiring area of Senegal is the Club Med Cap Skiring resort,though many other hotels of varying quality are available as well. Located 150 mi/240 km south of Dakar, the area is beautiful, with spectacular white-sand beaches shaded by coconut trees. Domestic flights ...
Cape Bonavista, 80 mi/130 km north of St. John's, is reputed to be where, in 1497, John Cabot's ship made landfall in what became known as Newfoundland and Labrador (although no one knows the exact spot for sure). You can see a replica of the ship, the Matthew , in the town's harbor. The lighthou...
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, is astonishingly lovely: It is a land of rocky coasts, rugged mountains and peaceful valleys, all surrounding a vast, brackish inland sea known as the Bras d'Or (Arm of Gold) Lake. The best way to experience this island is to drive (or, even better, be driven) along ...
The NASA Kennedy Space Center dominates Cape Canaveral, so much so that the area is known as the Space Coast. Author Jules Verne envisioned the coast of central Florida as the world's portal into space in his 1865 science-fiction tale From the Earth to the Moon . That prediction became a reality. ...
We found Cape Coast a nice place to relax, lie on the beach and enjoy delicious seafood. Located 75 mi/120 km west of Accra, it's also a good base for drives along the coast or for visits to various European-built castles and forts. In the city itself is the sprawling British-built Cape Coast Castle...
This long, fishhook-shaped cape located 55 mi/90 km southeast of Boston is a haven for summer vacationers. It offers interesting shopping, museums, restaurants and the famed 40-mi/65-km Cape Cod National Seashore. Many of the cape's towns have classic village greens and 18th-century houses with s...
No cars are allowed on Cape Haze, Florida, a 7-mi-/11-km-long barrier island about 60 mi/97 km northwest of Fort Myers. Instead, resort guests are transported from the mainland in shuttles. Crowds are almost unknown there. Fishing charters are available, or lines can be cast off the northern pass,...
Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, is the departure point for many cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, as well as domestic cruises to New England. The cruise port offers lovely views of the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan and is only 10 minutes (7 mi/11 km) from New York City. Lo...
Overview Introduction A small village on a long, sandy beach near the southern end of Lake Malawi, Cape Maclear is a jumping-off point for hiking in the surrounding hills, visiting Lake Malawi National Park or taking boat trips to nearby islands. From the islands, you can snorkel and scuba dive a...
At the southern tip of New Jersey's shore 125 mi/200 km south of Newark, Cape May is one of the most appealing destinations on the Eastern Seaboard. As the nation's oldest seashore resort, Cape May offers a lot more than sea, sun and surf: It has more than 600 restored, gingerbread-clad, pastel-pa...
Cape Sounion, Greece, on Attica's southern tip, is where you'll find the well-preserved, fifth-century-BC Doric Temple of Poseidon. Its location on a cliff, 43 mi/69 km southeast of Athens, ensures fabulous sunset views (it's also a great place to be when the moon's full). It's one of Greece's most ...
South Africa's "Mother City," Cape Town is dominated by Table Mountain and surrounded by the wild Atlantic Ocean, giving it an unquestionably jaw-dropping backdrop. It was once described by Sir Francis Drake as "the fairest cape in all the circumference of the earth," and since the 16th century, se...
The name of this island nation translates to "Green Cape," but if you're expecting the landscape to be green on all of the Cape Verde islands, you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for a cool, tranquil refuge from the heat, crowds and chaos of the African continent, you'll get what you're lookin...
The mountainous interior immediately inland of Cape Town, South Africa, boasts some of the country's most compelling scenery, but is best known as the home of South African viniculture. Set in the heart of the Winelands, Stellenbosch, the country's second-oldest town, is studded with wonderful examp...
The horn-shaped Cape York Peninsula at the northern end of Queensland, Australia, is a showcase of Aboriginal culture and cave paintings, tropical forests, the Quinkan Caves and abundant wildlife (kangaroos, emus and koalas). Hardy travelers will find this area fascinating, but it's best seen on a t...
Located 170 mi/270 km south of Salt Lake City, Utah's Capitol Reef National Park got its name, in part, from the white sandstone domes that are said to look like the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (http://www.nps.gov/care/index.htm). Reef is a term that early explorers gave to the rugged and col...
Cappadocia is an ancient Christian kingdom, about 100 mi/160 km southeast of Ankara in central Turkey. It sits within an eerie, surrealistic landscape of pinnacles, ravines and carved-rock dwellings, and it's one of the most fascinating places in Turkey. Caves in the region were used as shelters and...
Celebrated for its natural beauty, rich history, mild climate and breathtaking vistas, the Island of Capri is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Italy. Once infamous as the "Island of Sin," Capri Island, about 15 mi/25 km south of Naples in the Bay of Naples, is now known as a desir...
The Caprivi Strip, the thin strip of land separating Botswana and Zambia, has opened up to adventurous travelers following the end of the Angolan civil war which occasionally spilled across the border. Much of the territory between Angola and Botswana was left in an undeveloped state for the wildlif...
The town of Captain Cook is located in the southern portion of the Kona coast where the best Hawaiian coffee, Kona, is produced. You can find out about growing and processing coffee at the Kuaiwi Farm. Samples—as well as a gift shop—are available there and at a number of other plantations in the are...
Upscale Captiva Island, Florida (5 mi/8 km long and 1 mi/2 km wide), is located across a short causeway from Sanibel Island, north of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The dominant property there, located on the very tip of the island, is South Seas Island Resort, with literally mile...
Caracas is a popular place to talk about, although few people think of it as an ideal travel destination these days. Political tensions with Venezuela have made travel difficult for U.S. citizens. Popular areas such as Plaza Bolivar are hot spots for ongoing political demonstrations, although the...
Caraquet is the oldest French settlement in New Brunswick and the Cultural Capital of Canada (a title granted by Canadian Heritage). Acadians settled there in 1758, 180 mi/290 km northeast of Fredericton on the northern coast. Stop there to see the Acadian Historical Village—more than 40 restored b...
Set on the Pacific coast 40 mi/65 km southwest of San Jose, Carara protects a transition zone between the tropical dry forests of the north Pacific slope and the rain forests to the south. It holds some of the last remaining scarlet macaws as well as monkeys and crocodiles. The park can be visited o...
This small, quaint town of log buildings boasts one of the Yukon's most picturesque settings, with spectacular views down Bennett Lake to the snow-capped Coast Mountains that separate British Columbia from southeastern Alaska. The name of this community (43 mi/70 km south of Whitehorse by road) come...
Wales' capital city, Cardiff has a special, intimate atmosphere, best absorbed by strolling through the old town. The Victorian arcades with their independent shops are particularly charming.
Once a busy seaport, today Cardigan is a quaint market town with a medieval bridge and castle mound from Norman times. Caridigan is 100 mi/160 km northwest of Cardiff. There are good sandy beaches up and down the coast, and the ruins of the 12th-century abbey in nearby St. Dogmael's are worth seein...
Before the arrival of Columbus and other Europeans, the Caribs—or Kalinago, as they call themselves and prefer to be called—dominated many of the Caribbean islands. A nomadic, fishing and farming people from South America, the Kalinago also knew how to build a solid canoe, and they spread north for ...
The huge Cariboo Chilcotin area of central British Columbia, located 340 mi/550 km north of Vancouver, is lake country—it has more than 8,000 lakes and countless streams filled with trout and salmon. The trout fishing is particularly good at Young, Loon, Eagan, Bonaparte and Sharpe Lakes. Wilderness...
Near the Scottish border, the ancient city of Carlisle, England, merits a short visit to see Hadrian's Wall. Built by the Romans around AD 120, the wall stretches some 80 mi/130 km from Carlisle toward Newcastle-upon-Tyne. You can walk the wall's entire length in eight days, stopping overnight at be...
Located north of San Diego, Carlsbad is home to Legoland California theme park, which looks a bit like something you might build in your own backyard—if you had 125 acres/50 hectares of yard and 30 million Lego building bricks. The park is part children's learning center and part theme park, with e...
In the southeastern corner of the state, Carlsbad Caverns National Park is one of the most impressive series of limestone caves in the world. Carlsbad is a three-level cavern that contains the largest known underground room in the world (300 ft/92 m high by 1,500 ft/458 m long by 300 ft/92 m wide). ...
Carmel, California, is the kind of place where a person might hand you a poem in the street. It's where at dawn you can get a strong cup of coffee in hand and take a long walk down the beach. You can learn anything you want about dogs, have an authentic Ayurvedic massage and watch the setting sun g...
Overview Introduction Although it lacks its density of colonial monuments, slow-paced Carmelo, Uruguay, offers a glimpse of what Colonia del Sacramento was like before its tourism-driven gentrification. Located 235 km/145 km northwest of Montevideo, Carmelo has good boat connections to Argentina ...
South of Puerto Montt, hugging the Argentine border, Carretera Austral is a narrow penetration road that meanders through the thinly populated land of volcanoes, steppes, fjords and forests of the Aisen region, all the way to Villa O'Higgins. In this northern Patagonian region, only near the regiona...
The hilly island of Carriacou (pronounced carry-uh-COO ), northeast of Grenada, reminds us of the Caribbean of years ago: The countryside is still pristine and the beaches uncrowded. You could probably walk the entire island in about five hours—and that, in our opinion, is one of the best ways to s...
Overview Introduction Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, just 10 mi/16 km northeast of Belfast, is where the ancestors of both author Jonathan Swift and U.S. President Andrew Jackson lived. Plan a half-day visit in this town on Belfast Lough (lake) to see the Andrew Jackson Cottage and U.S. Rangers...
The state capital since territorial days, Carson City was named after the infamous Indian fighter Kit Carson and strategically located near the old Comstock Lode mining territory. Today, its proximity to the Lake Tahoe/Reno area makes Carson City an appealing step back in time and an easy day trip f...
This Caribbean port city boasts some of the finest Spanish colonial buildings in the world and has morphed into a cosmopolitan it destination, with the requisite top-notch restaurants, hip hotels and sometimes sky-high prices to match. Cartagena, more formally known as Cartagena de Indias, is re...
Cartagena is a historic coastal city on the southern coast of Spain. Founded by Hasdrubal 2,000 years ago in memory of his home city of Carthage in North Africa, it became an even more important city under the Romans, who named it Cartago Nova and made it capital of their province of Carthaginesis. ...
Cartago, Costa Rica, located 14 mi/23 km east of San Jose, was the country's capital until San Jose took that distinction in 1823. Later, Cartago suffered more devastating setbacks: two strong earthquakes in 1841 and 1910. Still, a surprising number of old buildings remain, including the ruins of a ...
Casablanca is well known because of the Humphrey Bogart film of the same name, despite the fact the film was shot in a Hollywood studio. It's also Morocco's largest and most modern city. Before the French began to develop it as the country's economic capital in 1912, Casa—as Casablanca is commonl...
Overview Introduction Not far from Flic en Flac, on the road to Tamarin, you'll find the Casela Bird Park, a group of aviaries housing more than 140 varieties of rare birds. Don't miss the safari to the nearby mountain organized by the park. It's about 10 mi/16 km south of Port Louis, Mauritius. ...
Towering above the rich farmland in south-central Ireland 50 mi/80 km northeast of Cork, the Rock of Cashel is more than an impressive outcropping of limestone: Atop the rock are three outstanding examples of medieval Irish architecture that make it one of the best historic sites in the country. T...
Casper, Wyoming's second-largest city, is located in the center of the state 180 mi/290 km north of Cheyenne. It was made rich by the stores of natural resources that still pump the economy there. Before oil and gas were discovered, pioneers crossed paths at Casper via the Oregon, Pony Express, Ca...
The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world. A number of towns with adequate hotels and good beaches and shops are found along what was once marketed as the Persian Riviera, an area that still functions as a popular getaway for many Iranians. Some of the towns that were developed for tourism in...
The capital of the Beira Baixa region, Castelo Branco, Portugal, is located 155 mi/250 km northeast of Lisbon. It is a relatively modern city surrounding a medieval quarter. The former Bishop's Palace contains a lovely garden dotted with religious statues, orange trees and manicured hedges. The pa...
With the only major airport in the region, Castlegar, British Columbia, makes an excellent base for exploring the Kootenay recreation area, as well as the towns of Rossland and Nelson in the southern part of the province 385 mi/620 km east of Vancouver. Russian immigrants who were members of the D...
Overview Introduction St. Lucia's busy capital and main port, Castries, is on the island's northwest coast. Most of its sights can be seen in a half-hour, but it's fun to walk around—it's a real city and not an area designed specifically for travelers. The city itself is not pretty, but it is an ...
Named for British sea captain (some say pirate) Arthur Catt, remote and little-visited Cat Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the Bahamas with its tranquil rolling hills and lush green forests. Barely a mile/kilometer wide in places, this 50-mi-/80-km-long isle is a peaceful retreat th...
The 9,000-year-old city of Catalhoyuk, Turkey, 160 mi/260 km south of Ankara, was once more interesting to read about than to see. Ongoing excavations may eventually prove that urban life had its origins at Catalhoyuk, but, for now, the ruins have fairly limited interest except to history and archae...
Catalina Island lies 22 mi/35 km off the Southern California coast, but it feels like a world away. Just the name conjures images of the quaint seaside village of Avalon, picture-perfect harbors and sandy beaches. Catalina is everything that Los Angeles is not—small-scale, nostalgic and slow-paced—...
In the northeastern corner of Spain and bordering France at the Pyrenees, Catalonia is one of Spain's more independent regions. It has its own language and semiautonomous government. With Barcelona for its capital, it is energetic, dynamic and has a blend of cultural influences—Catalan, Spanish and ...
Catania, Sicily, is the second largest city on the island, after Palermo. Located on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian sea, it sits at the base of Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have forced the city to rebuild many times, leaving a unique blend ...
On the north shore, 25 mi/40 km northwest of Charlottetown, Cavendish is one of the tourism hubs of Prince Edward Island. Some of its allure comes from the white-sand beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park. But there's another reason people visit: This is Green Gables country. Many of the ar...
Texas has more than 2,000 known caves, most of which are located in the limestone and gypsum areas of central and west Texas. Cascade Caverns (near Boerne) has an impressive underground waterfall (http://www.cascadecaverns.com). While you're in the area, see Cave Without a Name, less well-known than...
Caye Caulker is a small island that lies just inside the barrier reef. It's popular with visitors to Belize, but to call it a resort island would give the wrong impression: The atmosphere is very slow paced—Ambergris Caye seems almost like a metropolis by comparison—and Caulker's official motto, see...
Overview Introduction French Guiana's capital city warrants no more than three hours of sightseeing. Do visit the cemetery in the center of town, with its unique tombstones and worm trees (they're called that because they appear to be covered with worms). Round out your tour with visits to the 17...
Cayman Brac, a small island 90 mi/145 km northeast of Grand Cayman, offers excellent hiking, spelunking, diving, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing (marlin, wahoo, bluefin and barracuda). It's also the only part of the Cayman Islands with any notable above-water topography: A spinelike wedge of lime...
You'll enjoy the Cayman Islands if you've ever had the urge to see beneath the sea. The underwater scenery is among the best in the Caribbean, full of exotic fish, coral reefs and even the occasional stingray. The water is warm, clear and often calm—and there are plenty of places to dive or snorkel...
Cayo Largo lies south of the main island of Cuba, some 120 mi/195 km southeast of Havana, and has some of the best stretches of sand and water in the Caribbean. It offers a half-dozen all-inclusive resorts, plus a dedicated fishing lodge. (Alas, millions of mosquitoes can be a problem at times, so s...
The name Cebu is attached to a province, an island and the Philippines' second-largest metropolis, Cebu City. The whole area is rich in colonial history. It was on Cebu Island that the explorer Ferdinand Magellan first landed in 1521, claiming the territory for Spain (soon afterward he was killed). ...
Overview Introduction A cedar tree graces Lebanon's flag, though few of the fabled trees remain. If you want to see them, it will require some effort on your part. The best place to get a look at the famous trees is at the grove on Mount Makmal (about 5 mi/10 km east of Bcharre, 80 mi/129 km nort...
Ceilidh Trail (pronounced KAY-lee or, less poetically, called Highway 19) runs across Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, between Port Hastings and Margaree Harbour. In other words, it essentially connects the Canso Causeway—and by extension, the Nova Scotian mainland—to the Cabot Trail. Following Ca...
Located on the Savinja river, Celje is Slovenia's third-largest city. Located 46 mi/74 km northeast of Ljubljana, Celje is home to the Regional Museum, the Museum of Contemporary History, two contemporary art galleries and an art gallery dedicated to erotic art. Celje's most impressive aspect, howev...
Although things are getting better for the wildlife in the Central African Republic, they seem to be getting worse for the people. The government's efforts to improve the country's parks and protect its dwindling wildlife have shown results: The animal population, which had declined steadily for ye...
This vintage town, 30 mi/50 km west of Denver, and its nearby neighbor Black Hawk are two of the state's centers for casino gambling. Central City is a former mining town that retained Victorian architecture until the behemoth casinos took over. Games are limited to slots, blackjack and poker, and t...
The largest island in the Ionian Sea, Cephalonia, Greece, offers excellent watersports and rugged coastal scenery. Take a small boat to visit the Melissani Grotto, stroll through the capital town of Argostoli, enjoy the view from the Venetian citadel at Assos, relax on one of the island's beautiful ...
This busy, pretty holiday town 4 mi/7 km north of Como is famous for its legendary Grand Hotel Villa d'Este. (But for most mere mortals, the huge garden of Villa Il Pizzo is easier to visit.) Cernobbio has a beautiful lakefront piazza and interesting old churches. You can take a swim on Lido Riva ...
Located at the crown of an extinct volcano about 50 mi/80 km northwest of San Salvador, Cerro Verde National Park, El Salvador, has good hiking in forest-covered mountains and spectacular views of Izalco Volcano and Coatepeque Crater Lake. Cerro Verde park harbors many plants and birds, including ...
On the Vltava River and 75 mi/120 km south of Prague lies Ceske Budejovice. This capital of south Bohemia is the home of the original Budweiser beer, not to be confused with the American version. (It is called Budvar in Czech, and most believe it tastes better than its U.S. counterpart.) The brewe...
Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, an incredibly well-preserved medieval town 16 mi/26 km southwest of Ceske Budejovice, is a maze of cobblestoned streets and charming Renaissance facades built along a loop in the river and overseen by an enormous 13th-century castle (complete with five courtyards). Thi...
Although the small town of Cesme, Turkey, which is 360 mi/590 km west of Ankara, has its share of beach houses and hotels, its old quarter still retains an attractive and relaxing atmosphere—at least when the summer hordes haven't descended. There are several beaches, some with warm springs (the w...
The historical and spiritual capital of Montenegro, Cetinje is located at the foot of Mount Lovcen, 36 mi/58 km west of Podgorica. At the summit of Mount Lovcen is the mausoleum of one of Montenegro's most celebrated rulers, Petar II Petrovic Njegos, and a magnet for hikers. Cetinje is home to some...
Overview Introduction Reached by boat or by a moderate hike, this bay has some of the prettiest coastal scenery on the island. 14 mi/22 km southwest of Hagatna.
The city of Chachapoyas remains well off the well-trodden tourist trail, but its reputation as a tourist destination is growing every year. This is mainly because of the nearby ruins of Kuelap, a massive hilltop fortress that once served as an important defensive and cultural center for the Chachapo...
Certain ancient places—the Egyptian pyramids come to mind—capture the imagination with their enduring majesty and mystery. Chaco Canyon is one of those places. Located in the northwest corner of the state, these ruins were built over a period of three centuries (AD 900-1200) and are considered one o...
This country in north-central Africa is well off most North Americans' radar screens, and that's not likely to change anytime soon. It does offer a mix of landscapes, including the Sahara desert in the north and savannas with wildlife in the south, even large (though not particularly impressive) Lak...
On the west side of Trinidad 14 mi/22 km south of Port of Spain, Chaguanas (not to be confused with Chaguaramas, which is on the northwest peninsula) is home to a thriving East Indian community. If you visit on market days, you'll think you're in Bombay. The town brims with bargains both in stores ...
The most important resort area in northern Greece, the Chalkidiki Peninsula is renowned for excellent beaches, first-class resorts and its nightlife. It has three fingerlike sections. The western finger, Kassandra, is less than an hour away from Thessaloniki. It features lively resort towns such a...
Overview Introduction Although Chamarel village, 18 mi/30 km south of Port Louis, holds little of interest to the casual visitor to Mauritius, the nearby Terres de Couleurs (Colored Earths) make the trip well worth the effort. The name comes from the soil, which is layered in yellow, red, green, ...
Champaign and its twin city, Urbana, lie 135 mi/215 km south of Chicago and host the main campus of the University of Illinois. They have the state's most active nightlife and widest cultural offerings south of Chicago. There's a good selection of restaurants and bars in "Campustown," and entertainm...
A province of southern Laos, 325 mi/525 km southeast of Vientiane, Champasak was a part of the Khmer Angkor Empire between the 10th and 13th centuries. Starting from Pakse, the burgeoning provincial capital founded by the French in 1905, Champasak's heritage is best explored by riding a riverboat (b...
Once the capital of the Chimu kingdom, Chan Chan was the largest pre-Inca city in South America. In fact, it is thought to be the largest adobe city ever built anywhere, with 50,000 residents inhabiting 10 sq mi/26 sq km. It had nine subcities, each built by a different ruler, who upon his death was...
Chandigarh, India, is the capital of two states, Hariyana and Punjab, but what it's known for is impressive modern architecture. Chandigarh, 150 mi/240 km north of Delhi, was designed by the great French architect Le Corbusier, who was commissioned for the job by India's first Prime Minister, Jawaha...
Chania (sometimes spelled Khania) is situated in the western part of Crete Island. It's a good place to stop for lunch or dinner and watch the parade of people strolling along the charming curved Venetian harbor quayside (especially at night). Most of the city's interesting sites are found in th...
The Channel Islands are geographically much closer to France than to England. Though they've been in the British domain since the Norman conquest, their culture and cuisine show the influence of both countries. The two main islands have established themselves as a tax-free shopping zone (a nice repr...
Channel Islands National Park is one of the great undiscovered attractions in California. It encompasses the five northernmost Channel Islands, which are seaward extensions of the Santa Monica Mountains. The establishment of the 250,000-acre/101,250-hectare national park (half of this area is unde...
The mountainous Chapada Diamantina National Park 725 mi/1,165 km north of Rio de Janeiro, where diamonds were discovered nearly 200 years ago, is dotted with abandoned mining towns. The lush mountains are laced with hiking trails that pass roaring waterfalls (including the fascinating Cachoeira da F...
The magnificent Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, located in the west-central state of Goias, showcases the unique vegetation of the hilly Cerrado region, 771 mi/1,242 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro. In the spring (September-November), the region is particularly stunning when hundreds of rare spe...
In the middle of the Research Triangle (with Durham and Raleigh), Chapel Hill is home to the University of North Carolina. The school was founded in 1793 and is the oldest state-supported university in the U.S. A typical college town, Chapel Hill, located 30 mi/48 km northwest of Raleigh, swells b...
Fierce local pride is a Charleston institution. It has helped sustain the city for more than 300 tumultuous years—from colonial times, through the Revolutionary and Civil wars, to the present. Pride has also sustained hundreds of historic Charleston buildings—a big reason that travelers visit today...
Situated in the middle of the state's western region, Charleston is the state capital and West Virginia's largest city. Be sure to visit the Cass Gilbert-designed state Capitol with its six types of marble and striking gold-colored dome. The area around the Capitol has many other worthwhile sights: ...
This ramshackle town is a pleasant place to spend a few hours limin'— the fine art of sitting around with folks doing nothing in particular. Most of the sights are a few blocks from the harbor, which has been spruced up to include covered benches, snack bars and craft shops. You can easily tour the ...
This town and surrounding coastal region is a popular summer retreat for vacationers from throughout the Northeast. It's famed for its broad, sandy beaches along the Atlantic. Also worth visiting are the Kimball Wildlife Refuge, a great place for bird watching, and Ninigret Park, with 172 acres/69 h...
A lovely region of peaks and valleys—some rugged and others gently rolling—Charlevoix is a pleasant and convenient excursion beginning 40 mi/65 km from Quebec City. Located along the northwestern shore of the St. Lawrence River, it's dotted with villages that are rich in history. There are also plen...
Formerly sleepy Charlotte, North Carolina, is the largest city in the state. In response to growth of the city's banking industry, an influx of workers from outside the South began arriving in the mid-1980s. With arts, culture and sports offerings exploding on the city's scene, Charlotte is now one ...
This university town nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is synonymous with Thomas Jefferson. His creative ideas about architecture are evident on the lovely grounds of the University of Virginia, which he founded. Jefferson's pleasing design was for an academical village—two rows of neo...
Charlottetown likes to relive its pivotal role in history—the birthplace of unified Canada. Today, it's also one of the tourism hubs of Prince Edward Island, where visitors can spend time shopping and eating after they've seen the historic sites or toured the island.
The small, unspoiled village of Charlotteville located 14 mi/22 km northeast of Scarborough has red, tin-roofed houses with gingerbread trim set beside a calm beach on Man-of-War Bay. The best fishing, diving and snorkeling on Tobago are found in this area, with easily accessible snorkel sights at...
Chartres, France, is the site of one of Europe's best-known cathedrals, and is an easy day trip 55 mi/90 km southwest from Paris. Frequent trains run from Paris and take about an hour each way. Chartres sits atop a small hill, so the soaring cathedral can be seen from a distance. The old town of...
A still-thriving fishing village combined with the tony aura of a wealthy resort town, Chatham, Massachusetts, has the look and feel of the quintessential seaside New England village. Sea-bitten cottages with winding roses look out to dramatic ocean views alongside stately, old-time family estates. ...
If you truly want to get away from it all on an ecotour, you can't get much farther than New Zealand's Chatham Islands—a three-hour small-aircraft flight from Wellington, which is 500 mi/800 km to the northwest. Of the 10 islands, only Chatham and Pitt are populated, but they all offer good beaches,...
Located largely in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Chatahoochee National Forest covers a wide stretch of northern Georgia and offers a summer haven for those looking to beat the heat of lower climes. Within the Chattahoochee Forest, you'll find beautiful waterfalls (including Amicalola and Toccoa), ample ...
Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a clean, pleasant city nestled amid the ridges and mountains in the southeast corner of the state. Despite the growth of the waterfront, the thing still most associated with the city is probably the Chattanooga Choo-Choo (and the song of the same name), a train route th...
This pleasant region along the southeastern shore of the St. Lawrence River, southeast of Quebec City, is dotted with historical villages and towns. If you like history (the French, the British and the Iroquois battled for possession of this area), pine-covered mountains (part of the Appalachians) a...
The name Chaves, from the Portuguese word for keys, dates from the time when citizens literally locked up the place at night. Today, Chaves, Portugal, located 112 mi/180 km northeast of Porto, is an important spa town with many ancient buildings and timeworn streets. Walk these streets to see the ...
This picturesque town 50 mi/80 km southeast of Tangier in the Rif Mountains has more atmosphere than sights. Walk around the small medina with its light-blue-painted walls and drink tea at the main plaza. The main sight is the casbah with its enclosed garden and small museum. The town hosts the an...
Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province, which is famous for its pandas and spicy cuisine. Located 940 mi/1,500 km southwest of Beijing, Chengdu is a pleasant city and southwest China's university and technology hub. Many tourists find themselves in Chengdu en route to or from Tibet. Chengdu's ...
Formerly known as Madras, Chennai is among the most ancient cities in India. Located in the cradle of Indian Christianity, Chennai is where the first missionaries arrived 1,900 years ago. Visit the Basilica of San Thome (where Christ's apostle St. Thomas, who's buried there, is said to have preac...
The port city of Cherbourg, France, lies on the coast of Normandy. You can spend the day exploring the city with its variety of churches, museums and shops, or choose to make the trip to famous Norman sites in the surrounding area. Three UNESCO World Heritage sites are within a short train ride fr...
Chernigov (also called Chernihiv) is often referred to as Ukraine's open-air museum. The whole of this lovely town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of the city is intact (spared from the construction of blocky Soviet-era buildings), and it dazzles with its array of churches, monasteries, golden...
Site of the world's worst nuclear power-plant disaster, Chernobyl has become a tourist destination 60 mi/100 km north of Kyiv. Although the last working reactor was shut down in December 2000, the tourist office in Kyiv can arrange tours of the site. Visitors travel from Kyiv to a checkpoint about 1...
Located near the Cherokee Reservation, 270 mi/435 km southwest of Raleigh, and adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee has plenty of hotels and is a much-used gateway to the park. Qualla Boundary is the name of the Cherokee Reservation, home of the Eastern Band of the nation (tho...
Chesapeake City, Maryland, located 60 mi/95 km northeast of Baltimore, is one of the Upper Bay's most appealing towns. It is nestled under the arching span of the Chesapeake City Bridge along the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. The tree-shaded streets of Chesapeake City's historic district are li...
The walled medieval town of Chester, England, located 15 mi/25 km south of Liverpool, is one of the prettiest on the Welsh border. It's great for walking—you'll see Roman and medieval fortifications, black-and-white Tudor houses and lovely gardens. There's good shopping along the "rows," two-tiere...
Situated on the Chester River, Chestertown, Maryland, is one of the most graciously pretty Eastern Shore towns. Impressive Revolutionary War-era buildings line the brick streets, shaded by huge trees. Spacious porches and old-fashioned gardens encircle multistory Victorian homes in this town 30 mi/...
Located 12 mi/19 km north of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill was once the vacation spot of choice for colonial Philadelphians. Today visitors go there to stroll the cobblestoned streets dusted with more than 100 shops and the Morris Arboretum, where literally thousands of plants and Delaware Valley tree...
Located along the shores of Chetumal Bay about 185 mi/300 km southeast of Merida, close to the border with Belize, Chetumal is the capital city of the state of Quintana Roo. It's relatively new as Mexican cities go—it was founded in 1898 in an effort to curb the illegal trade of arms and lumber. The...
Part overgrown cowtown, part state capital, Cheyenne is a small city but also Wyoming's largest, with about 64,000 residents. Located in the southeast corner of the state, it's a long drive from Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. Most people only make the trip to Cheyenne during the city's most...
Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities in Thailand and has most of Bangkok's amenities (despite being only a fraction of the size), including excellent food and accommodations. Chiang Mai is also increasingly making a name for itself in the arts. Refreshingly cooler than Bangkok, it has a slower p...
The northern city of Chiang Rai, Thailand, is a bustling place of more than 200,000 people. Its main function for travelers is as a base for trips to visit local hill tribes, embark on elephant treks and tour the famous Golden Triangle area, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet at the Mekong River,...
Chicago-style: The adjective seems to attach itself to everything in Chicago—from the vibrant downtown, stunning architecture and political machines to deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, the arts and blues music. Chicago residents do things with their own distinctive flair, creating innovations that resoun...
The ruins in the large, impressive archaeological area of Chichen Itza date from the fifth century AD. The structures on the site vary greatly, relating to ritual, religion, royalty and recreation. The older parts of the site are from the Classic Maya era. Later additions are believed to be influe...
Also known as "Chichi," Chichicastenango, Guatemala, is a usually-sleepy town with cobblestoned streets 90 mi/145 km northwest of Guatemala City. On Thursday and Sunday, however, it wakes up and hosts a well-known market that attracts thousands of Amerindians and large crowds of tourists. It's the m...
Overview Introduction This military park, which extends from Georgia into Tennessee, commemorates two major Civil War engagements that took place in 1863: the Battle of the Chickamauga and the Battle of Chattanooga. It includes Missionary Ridge, where Gen. Ulysses S. Grant led Union forces to a d...
Chiclayo is a thriving commercial center near the coast, 420 mi/675 km northwest of Lima. Although Chiclayo is not oriented to leisure travelers, it's a dynamic, lively and well-functioning city. The market offers woven straw items and other handicrafts. There's also a section devoted to witches, wh...
The little town of Chico, California, located 140 mi/225 km northeast of San Francisco in the Sacramento Valley, is more happening than one might expect, and much of the liveliness stems from the presence of California State University at Chico. A small-town collegiate atmosphere predominates, wit...
Chihuahua is interesting primarily for the surrounding desert scenery and the city's historical importance—it played a major role in the Mexican Revolution. Pancho Villa used Chihuahua as a base of operations, and the mansion that served as his home and headquarters has been converted into the Museo...
Between the Pacific Ocean and the base of the Andes, one of world's great mountain ranges, Chile boasts some of the world's most varied and dramatic landscapes. To comprehend its diverse geography, imagine a single country stretching from Baja California through California, the Pacific northwest co...
Birthplace of independence hero Bernardo O'Higgins and 250 mi/400 km south of Santiago, Chillan is a pleasant place to overnight if you're driving through central Chile. Little remains of the original town, called Chillan Viejo, founded in 1579 (and twice destroyed by earthquakes). The city has a mo...
Chillicothe was Ohio's first capital, and you can still see the estate that inspired the Ohio state seal: Adena was the Georgian-style mansion of Thomas Worthington, Ohio's sixth governor. The Ross County Historical Society (housed in several residences from the 1800s) includes the historic McClinto...
Southwest of Puerto Montt, about 630 mi/1,016 km south of Santiago, Chiloe, Chile, is an archipelago of dense evergreen forests with a fascinating history. The Amerindians who lived there were among the last to be defeated by the Spanish (and, subsequently, its inhabitants were the last Spaniards to...
The Chimaera, named after the legendary fire-breathing beasts that were said to terrorize ancient Lycia, are perpetual flames flickering on a hillside near Olympos. The fires, no larger than a candle flame, are produced by methane gas and cannot be extinguished with water. In fact, if a flame is c...
Located between Santa Fe and Taos, Chimayo is home to El Santuario de Chimayo. This unadorned but striking shrine was built on the site where, in 1810, villagers claimed to see a light emanating from the ground. When they investigated, they unearthed a wooden cross. Ever since, Chimayo has been a pi...
These days, it's quite jarring to walk around parts of old Beijing. Although old women can still be seen pushing cabbages in rickety wooden carts amidst huddles of men playing chess, it's not uncommon to see them all suddenly scurry to the side to make way for a brand-new BMW luxury sedan squeezing ...
Among the Virginia shore's best-known attractions is the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which covers the southern third of Assateague Island. (The northern part of the island belongs to Maryland and is protected as part of the Assateague Island National Seashore.) Birds are a big part of the...
Overview Introduction This settlement in the middle of the Sahara is a classic North African desert city—sand dunes surround the settlement, and the central mosque is said to be more than 1,000 years old. The main attraction of Chinguetti is its atmosphere. Considered the seventh holy city of Isl...
Overview Introduction The small, sleepy town of Chinhoyi lies on the A1 road on the way to Kariba and the Chirundu border post with Zambia. Unusually for Zimbabwe, it was established by Italian settlers in 1906. The area around Chinhoyi is full of limestone and dolomite sinkholes, which were thou...
Though it's not one of the most popular islands, Chios, located 158 mi/254 km east of Athens, will interest those making a return visit to explore the Greek isles, as well as those with a particular interest in the Byzantine period. A stone's throw from Turkey, the island's villages are a subtle mi...
Overview Introduction Chippewa Falls, 12 mi/19 km north of Eau Claire, sits on the Chippewa River, just west of Lake Wissota. Recognized as one of the best small towns in the U.S., Chippewa Falls offers visitors an abundance of recreational opportunities: hiking, biking and horseback riding trail...
The main attraction in Chirripo National Park, on the northwest corner of La Amistad International Park (60 mi/100 km southeast of San Jose), is Mount Chirripo. At 12,600 ft/3,840 m, it is Costa Rica's highest peak. From Mount Chirripo's summit, you can see the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea ...
The capital city, Chisinau, is on the banks of the Bac River and is surrounded by the rolling hills of the Kodry Mountains. Like Tighina, Chisinau was almost completely rebuilt after World War II. Fewer than one-third of prewar structures survived, leaving large areas for tree-lined boulevards and p...
Overview Introduction Located on National Highway 4 in Karnataka and 188 mi/300 km northeast of Bangalore, Chitragurga, India, has the magnificent Seven Round rock fort, a marvel built on a rocky hill. It has architectural symmetry, intricate in-laid patterns in stones, designed frames and arches...
Overview Introduction In the heart of the Hindu Kush Mountains, this town is accessible by road only during the summer. (Flights are available year-round but are subject to cancellation because of inclement weather.) However, travel to Chitral is inadvisable at this time. Its greatest attractions...
This seaside city, the nation's second-largest, sits astride the Karnaphuli River on the Bay of Bengal. Among the city's sights are several tombs and religious shrines, including the Tomb of Sultan Bayazid Bostami (note the hundreds of tortoises in the tank, representing evil souls). The Shah Jame ...
Overview Introduction This national park in western Zimbabwe is one of the country's most remote and least developed reserves, and the only way to get to this region is by sturdy four-wheel-drive vehicle. Nevertheless, it is the country's third-largest park and sits astride the dramatic Zambezi E...
Entertainment is sure to be found every weekend in Chloride, Arizona, including Old West re-enactments and mock gunfights by the all-female gun-slinging crew the Wild Roses. Visit on the last Saturday of June for Old Miner's Day, Chloride's biggest event of the year, complete with pie-baking conte...
Chobe National Park, Botswana, is a 7,000-sq-mi/18,130-sq-km swamp-and-grasslands wilderness on the floodplains of the Chobe River 400 mi/645 km north of Gaborone. It is one of the best parks in Africa to see Big Five game. Its programs offer enough structure to put a first-timer at ease, yet its ba...
The village of Choeung Ek, Cambodia, is located a 40-minute drive from Phnom Penh. At one point or another, everyone who visits Cambodia will have to confront the country’s horrific past. One place to do so is at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. From 1975 to 1979, it is estimated that at least ...
A commercial center for agriculture located in the far southern part of Honduras, Choluteca isn't a tourism hot spot, though it's close to two good volcanic-sand beaches on the Gulf of Fonseca—Cedeno and Punta Raton. Fishing is also possible on the gulf. This partially colonial city, 60 mi/95 km s...
Chongqing is a big city with character. It is located in central China 150 mi/240 km southeast of Chengdu. In contrast to many of China's flat, uniformly gray cities, Chongqing (pronounced chong-CHING ) is on the hilly banks of the Yangtze. Enjoy just walking the streets (lined with sculpted wood ...
The red-and-white-striped South Point Lighthouse, located at the southernmost tip of Barbados in Christ Church Parish, was built by William Gordon and shown at London's Great Exhibition in 1851. The lighthouse was then dismantled and reassembled in 1852 in Barbados, where it became the first lightho...
Christchurch, New Zealand, 300 mi/480 km northeast of Queenstown, is a graceful city where gardens and architecture still reflect some of the culture and heritage of its European immigrants. Founded in 1850 as a Church of England colony, it is a picturesque mix of the old, the quasi-old and the s...
Long the cornerstone of Denmark's Baltic defenses, tiny Christianso (just 1 mi/2.5 km northeast of Bornholm Island) is still under the administration of the Ministry of Defense. This hasn't prevented it from becoming a popular destination for writers and painters, who have turned it into an unoffici...
Once a bustling Danish port on St. Croix, Christiansted's careful preservation of its ornate 18th-century buildings has made it a popular stop for visitors interested in more than a beach vacation. About six blocks of the town is a National Historic site. The best way to explore the area is on foot....
Christoffel National Park, Curacao, is centered on Mount Christoffel, the island's highest point at 1,239 ft/377 m. It affords a panoramic view of all of Curacao, as well as nearby Bonaire and Venezuela. Hikers can take one of eight different nature trails and see caves with ancient Caiquetio drawi...
Chur is the capital of the canton of Graubunden (or Grisons in French, Grigioni in Italian). This city 75 mi/120 km southeast of Zurich is one of the oldest cities in Switzerland, and history shows it's been inhabited since at least 3000 BC. Relics from the Stone Age have been found there and are di...
Churchill has become famous as the polar bear capital of the world. This is the only easily accessible human settlement where the great bears can be seen in the wild. With their numbers now dropping thanks to global warming, travelers eager to see these majestic animals are well-advised not to put o...
The enormous Chuuk Lagoon (sometimes called Truk Lagoon) is one of the largest in the world and holds a fleet of ships. During World War II, Chuuk was known as the Gibraltar of the Pacific. The lagoon, protected by a huge barrier reef, was one of the Imperial Japanese Navy's biggest anchorages, and ...
The town of Cilaos is near the island's center, lying within the Cirque de Cilaos , one of the island's three mountain basins. Ringed by Grand Bernard, Gros-Morne and Pitton des Neiges, the area is a great place for hiking. The region affords beautiful vistas, and there are places where steam rises...
Overview Introduction The locals from the pretty village of Cilipi, Croatia, often dance and play folk music in traditional costume on the main square on Sunday. Buses run from Dubrovnik directly to Cilipi and take less than an hour.
Located in the heartland of the Midwest on the Ohio River, Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Greater Cincinnati area in northern Kentucky are beautiful and serene spots for a vacation in the southwest Ohio area. Cincinnati manages to maintain its small, old-world charm through its outgoing people and impre...
Located in the northwestern Italian region of Liguria, the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is a string of five small towns dating back to the Middle Ages. They're located on a gorgeous, rocky stretch of the Ligurian Riviera coastline, between the cities of Genoa and La Spezia. The towns of Riomaggiore, ...
Overview Introduction The Cirque de Mafate is located in one of the most remote and beautiful areas of Reunion. It is not accessible by road. With six trails to follow, the basin is a beautiful place for hiking, and detailed hiking guidebooks (in French) and maps for the area are available on Reu...
Overview Introduction Open to the trade winds, Salazie is the greenest of the three mountain basins. Some visitors choose to see its verdant vegetation and numerous waterfalls from a helicopter. But those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground will enjoy the towns of Salazie , Hell-Bourg ...
City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho, is full of remarkable rock formations that rise like skyscrapers—some 60 stories high—above the desert floor near the Idaho-Utah border (about 4 mi/6 km southwest of Almo and 200 mi/320 km southeast of Boise). The sight amazes travelers today no less than it di...
This historic port town was once named Angostura ("the Narrows") because the Orinoco River is only 0.5 mi/0.8 km wide there. It's the site of the Angostura Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in South America and the only bridge crossing the entire river (all other crossings are made on ba...
Overview Introduction Set on the banks of the Parana River, this city is the primary border crossing to Iguacu Falls and the jumping-off point for excursions to nearby Itaipu Dam. The Puente de Amistad (Friendship Bridge), which spans the Parana River, links Paraguay to Brazil. If you cross it on...
Overview Introduction In 1961 Ciudad Guayana was established by presidential decree to integrate the Matanzas Industrial Zone (with enormous industrial plants), Puerto Ordaz (an upscale planned city) and San Felix (considered the "workers' city") into a single 36-sq-mi/93-sq-km metropolis. It has...
The industrial city of Ciudad Juarez lies across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, and 225 mi/360 km north of Chihuahua. The historic center is relatively safe, but the city has earned the unenviable reputation as the most dangerous city in North America, so if you go, make sure you stick to well-...
Ciudad Real, Spain, lies 100 mi/160 km south of Madrid and serves as a good base for seeing the region that surrounds it: La Mancha, popularized by Don Quixote . (Indeed, there are windmills in the dry plains surrounding the city and in a number of towns in the region.) Visit the Church of San Pe...
Located 130 mi/210 km northeast of Oklahoma City and long known as a health spa because of the artesian mineral wells in the area, Claremore is also home to the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum, one of the largest of its kind, with thousands of firearms. https://www.thegunmuseum.com. The area'...
Clarksdale is in the heart of the Mississippi Delta cotton country, 135 mi/215 km north of Jackson. It's no surprise, then, that it's also one of the cradles of the Delta blues, the earthy music created largely by black cotton workers beginning in the early 1900s. A listing of musicians from Clark...
Clervaux, Luxembourg, is a medieval town set in a deep, narrow valley beside the Clerve River, 38 mi/62 km north of Luxembourg City. Clervaux has a nice 12th-century castle and is the site of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maur. Built in 1910, the abbey has an interesting exhibit on ...
Cleveland, Ohio, has transformed itself, complete with new and refurbished tourist attractions, into a solid travel destination. Besides the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the city is filled with culture, restaurants and amusements. And the Cleveland scene—especially its revitalized downtown—is helping...
This town just west of the Texas border on Highway 84, 200 mi/320 km east of Albuquerque, is the home of the Norman Petty Studios, where the late Buddy Holly recorded many of his most famous rock 'n' roll hits in the late 1950s. The studio is still in use—LeAnn Rimes recorded "Blue" there in 1996—an...
This Transylvanian city, bisected by the Somes River, reflects a strong Hungarian influence (the region was once part of Hungary). Start your tour of the town's attractions with the 14th-century St. Michael's Church (Biserica Sf. Mihail) and its statue of the great Hungarian King Matthias. The city ...
Any trip to Cote d'Ivoire should include at least one visit to the coast. Grand Lahou , to the west of Abidjan, Assinie and Assouinde , to the east, have resort facilities and places to swim, both in the ocean and in inland lagoons. Tiegba , built on stilts above the water, makes a nice excursi...
One of the Yucatan Peninsula's ancient archaeological sites, Coba was once the commercial hub of the Mayan empire in the southern part of what is now the state of Quintana Roo. The pyramids and temples—among the tallest in the Yucatan—are still being excavated, and many of the ruins are still covere...
Coban, Guatemala, is a pleasant town in the Alta Verapaz region about 132 mi/213 km north of Guatemala City and an hour's drive north of the Biotopo del Quetzal. There is an excellent, don't-miss tour of the Finca Santa Margarita, a working coffee farm, but Coban is mostly known as a convenient jump...
Set on an island in Cork Harbor, on the country's south coast, Cobh was Ireland's main port of emigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The first transatlantic steamship sailed from there in 1838. Cobh was also the last port of call of the Titanic and the place where survivors of the Lusi...
Overview Introduction Cochabamba, one of the nation's largest cities, is noted for its shopping, pleasant climate, a good archaeological museum and the Inca ruins at nearby Incallajta. The cancha , or market, in Cochabamba is one of the largest in the country and is a good place to buy handicraf...
Nestled between a beautifully restored castle and the scenic Mosel River, this traditional German town is exceptionally charming. The town is surrounded by steep vineyards and is the center of the area's wine trade. Many local businesses offer tastings throughout the day. The tourist office is loc...
Located on Grand Turk, Cockburn Town is the historic heart of the Turks and Caicos. Walking tours along Duke and Font streets showcase the island's rich architectural history. The area was originally settled by Bermudians and is now home to the country's national museum. Legend has it that the set...
Cockpit Country, Jamaica, a region 70 mi/110 km southeast of Montego Bay, is characterized by an unusual formation of limestone hummocks and sinkholes, which are heavily overgrown and mostly inaccessible except at the outer fringes. Their attraction lies in their surreal appearance, best appreciated...
Lying 300 mi/485 km off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Coco Island is one of the largest uninhabited islands in the world. The island became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 as a result of its unique marine ecosystem, which is appealing to biologists and divers alike. It provides an unspoiled ...
Overview Introduction Watersports lovers flock to this little resort island. Other people go to Cocos simply because of its relatively quiet atmosphere. Half of the island is developed for day-tripping tourists. The other half is a local park. The island, once home to a copra plantation, has a va...
If you're approaching Yellowstone National Park from the east, you may pass through Cody. We suggest you pause for a while in this historic town named for the famous soldier, hunter and Wild West showman Col. William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. In addition to his many other exploits, Buffalo Bill helped fo...
Coimbra, Portugal, located 125 mi/200 km northeast of Lisbon, is a 12th-century town with a 13th-century university that is enlivened by 21st-century students. In May, the students celebrate the end of the academic year with a weeklong, colorful party called Queima das Fitas. Besides the lovely un...
Colima is a quiet, leafy town set high in the shadow of an active volcano an hour from the Pacific coast and 136 mi/220 km southeast of Guadalajara. Its three irregular-shaped plazas with their arched porticos and excellent cafes make great spots for idling. The excellent Museum of Western Culture...
If you don't mind traffic congestion, visit College Park, Maryland, a northeast Washington, D.C., suburb, to see the College Park Aviation Museum, located at the world's oldest operating airport. The first Army Aviation School started there around 1911, and the Wright brothers once taught at the s...
Colleville-sur-Mer is most famous as the home of the American Military Cemetery, which was depicted in the opening scenes of the film Saving Private Ryan . The town was chosen to host this cemetery after Operation Overlord brought the Allied troops to the shores of Normandy and to the beach code-na...
Colmar is one of the most beautiful cities in the Alsace region of France. The city can be enjoyed as a side trip from Strasbourg, only 50 mi/80 km away. The town offers Hansel-and-Gretel architecture, cobblestoned streets and colorful tile roofs. Photo opportunities abound, including picturesque ...
Located on the Rhine River, the delightful city of Cologne can trace its origins back to the Roman era. It has the largest and most famous church in Germany (and that's quite a statement). The city is filled with architectural marvels both old and new, and it's also home to some of Germany's best ...
Colombia could be South America's best-kept travel secret, were it not for its unenviable record in drug trafficking and kidnappings that the country has been working hard to overcome. Yes, it is true: Colombia hasn't entirely shaken its reputation as a volatile and dangerous country, trapped in a...
Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, is a frenetic city with good hotels, restaurants and shopping. The streets are filled with every form of transportation imaginable—buses, cars, trucks, tuk-tuks , oxcarts and pedestrians—and no one seems to follow any particular traffic rules. The chaos is proba...
The once-thriving city of Colon, Panama, sits 40 mi/60 km northwest of Panama City at the Caribbean entrance to the canal. It is still a major port of freighters, and a minor cruise-port stop; cruise ships berth at Colon 2000, while commercial vessels do so at Cristobal. A refurbishment program ha...
Yap is known for its great diving, but we like it because of its fascinating people, who've managed to preserve their traditional culture relatively intact. Yap, or Wa'ab , consists of three islands (Yap, Gagil-Tomil and Maap) joined by bridges. Several hundred yards/meters away, but with no bridge...
Not to be missed, Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is a charming 17th-century riverside town that is a former fortress and contraband port. Just 100 mi/160 km west of Montevideo, it's now a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its distinctive Portuguese colonial architecture and sycamore-shaded str...
Overview Introduction Set in a high, steep valley 45 mi/70 km west of Caracas, this village was settled in 1843 by immigrants from Germany. Accessible only by mule trails until 1963, the town was so remote that it was virtually impossible to reach and so insular that marriages outside the communi...
Overview Introduction Whether it's a hillside glowing bright yellow with fall aspen leaves or the jagged peaks of the San Juans covered in snow, the scenery steals the show in Colorado. Almost from the moment you set foot in the state, the mountains are either surrounding you or are visible on th...
Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been a popular resort town since the 1870s. It is the second largest city in Colorado and is the seat of El Paso County. Located only an hour south of Denver near the base of Pikes Peak—a soaring mountain whose summit is famous for inspiring Katharine Lee Bates to wri...
Admirers of planned cities will enjoy Columbia, Maryland, located off Route 29 between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Established in 1967, Columbia is one of developer James Rouse's success stories. Organized communities and lots of mature greenery spiral out from a downtown lake and recreation area...
Located near the center of the state, 120 mi/190 km northwest of Charleston, Columbia became South Carolina's capital when the seat of government moved there from Charleston in 1786. The State House is where the governor's office is and the General Assembly meets. It is one of the more unusual state...
The beautiful Columbia River Gorge canyon runs through the Cascade Mountain Range. At 80 mi/130 km long and up to 4,000 ft/1,240 m deep, its canyon walls flank Washington to the north and Oregon to the south. Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams and Mount Hood are all nearby. The gorge can be seen quickl...
The spectacular gorge of the Columbia River forms the border between Oregon and Washington. The gorge is filled with high waterfalls, high dams and high winds. (To get a good overview of all there is to see and do in this region, cross the river into Washington and visit the Columbia Gorge Interpre...
Columbus, Indiana, is about 45 mi/75 km south of Indianapolis. The number of structures designed by famous 20th-century architects in Columbus is amazing—and unprecedented—for a town of its size.You'll find the work of I.M. Pei, Eero and Eliel Saarinen, Harry Weese and others in more than 60 public ...
Ohio's capital has long lingered in the shadow of its better-known sister cities. And although it may lack a geographic focus like Cincinnati's Ohio River and Cleveland's Lake Erie, it has an economic focus that should make those industrial cities green with envy: Its high-tech industry continues to...
Overview Introduction The country's only beach resort is an oasis with brilliant waters.
Anyone driving from San Pedro Sula to Tegucigalpa should stop off for at least one night in Comayagua, with many colonial era streets and buildings. Founded in 1537, it was the capital of Honduras for more than 300 years but was heavily damaged by fire during a civil war in 1873. As a result, the ca...
Popular with divers, Comino is a small and generally peaceful island midway between the islands of Malta and Gozo, about 13 mi/22 km northwest of Valletta. There's only one hotel on the island, and it's open April-October only. The ferry to reach the island departs (when the hotel is open) from Cirk...
Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, a center for petroleum exploration and refining 910 mi/1,465 km southwest of Buenos Aires, is usually visited only by passengers connecting to flights to other parts of Patagonia. That's a shame, because the city is near some natural wonders and has one of the nation's...
Overview Introduction This huge park, located in an area of savanna and forest, is the country's finest nature reserve. The Comoe River flows through the park, which is open from December until the beginning of June. The park contains lions, hippos, elephants, buffalo, monkeys, many kinds of ante...
Once known as the Islands of the Moon, this group of four islands in the Indian Ocean is more rustic and less visited than the Seychelles—but just as beautiful. There are fields of cloves and vanilla beans; swift-running streams cascading down mountainsides to long, sandy beaches; and mazelike Musli...
Spreading along a narrow peninsula, Guinea's capital city is noisy, chaotic and polluted—a dramatic contrast from the country's peaceful, picturesque interior, where most visitors choose to spend their time. Among the downtown sights are the Palais de Nations, Musee National (regional displays from ...
Overview Introduction The central Chilean city of Concepcion, 320 mi/515 km southwest of Santiago, and its port of Talcahuano are an industrial powerhouse, but the presence of several universities gives the conurbation an active cultural life. The Universidad de Concepcion's Casa de Arte has impr...
Overview Introduction The journey itself is the goal when visiting Concepcion. This town, located on the Paraguay River, is reached by a fascinating riverboat trip from the capital. Remember to watch for animals and birds along the shore: Without a doubt, you'll see innumerable varieties. (Allow ...
Located 20 mi/30 km northwest of Boston, the village of Concord, Massachusetts, was one of the first places where musket balls flew during the Revolutionary War. The main battle site, Old North Bridge, is part of Minuteman National Historic Park, as are Hartwell Tavern (which changed hands several t...
Concord, New Hampshire's state capital, vies with Portsmouth for the greatest concentration of historic attractions. Be sure to visit the State House: Built around 1819, it's an imposing granite neoclassical structure with a gold dome and statues of Daniel Webster, Franklin Pierce and other New Hamp...
Though it doesn't get the attention that some of its neighbors in New England do, Connecticut shares many of the attractions that make the region a travel favorite: colonial history, Atlantic beaches, seaside villages with rich nautical histories, pastoral countryside. The reason it's often overloo...
Although it's difficult to pick any one area of Ireland as the most picturesque, Connemara definitely is one of the top contenders. The mountains known as the Twelve Bens tower over a coast worn by the Atlantic into a maze of fingerlike headlands and inlets. Go inland, and you'll find more water—hun...
The picturesque hillside village of Conques, France, lies on a medieval pilgrimage route in the southern part of the Massif Central, about 105 mi/170 km northeast of Toulouse. In addition to lovely scenery, there is the Romanesque Abbey of Ste. Foy, which was founded by Benedictine monks. It is ...
Constanta is Romania's second-largest city and the major Romanian port and resort city on the Black Sea. The older part of town is the most interesting, and it's pleasant to walk the winding streets that lead to the water. Major sites include the Museum of National and Archaeological History, the N...
Overview Introduction Located in the mountainous area of northeastern Algeria, Constantine (pop. 450,000) looks quite impressive sitting atop a high cliff. The city's attractions are mostly historical—controlled by Romans, Byzantines and Arabs, Constantine was Algeria's first capital. In colonial...
Located 460 mi/740 km northwest of Adelaide, the town of Coober Pedy, where most of Australia's opals are mined, is almost entirely underground. Stay two nights and tour the mines (you'll learn everything there is to know about opals), but be prepared for high temperatures aboveground and to get cov...
If you lumped together all 15 of the Cook Islands, you'd still get a mere speck of landmass—less than a quarter of the size of Rhode Island, the smallest U.S. state. But these tiny bits of land, flung out like expressionist spatters over a vast expanse of the South Pacific, are among the world's mos...
Cooke City, located in the heart of the Beartooth Mountains and bordered by the Custer, Shoshone and Gallatin national forests, offers breathtaking scenery and small-town charm. The city is only slightly more than 3 mi/5 km beyond the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Lodging, dining ...
South of Tortola (on the south side of Sir Francis Drake Channel), Cooper Island, British Virgin Islands, is accessible by private boat, charter yacht, or a ferry that leaves from Port Purcell in Road Town. The little island, only 1 mi/2 km long and 0.5 mi/1 km wide, offers swimming and a small peb...
Cooperstown, New York, is all about charm. This serene area on Otsego Lake seems to be small-town America, with Main Street shops and restaurants, and museums devoted to agriculture and art. But the big draw is baseball. Any true fan of the U.S. national pastime will make a point to stop in Coopers...
The coffee-growing, hilly region in Karnataka, Coorg, India, has steep hills, valleys and streams that are good for trekking and rock climbing. Madikere is the main town of the region. Kodavas (local people) follow a unique and interesting lifestyle and are naturally hospitable people. Many farmho...
The lakeside town of Copacabana is one of our favorites—it is among the friendliest, cleanest and prettiest places in the country. Copacabana has several cathedrals, one of which contains the nearly 500-year-old silver- and gold-encased Virgen de la Candelaria , which is reputed to have healing pow...
A Mayan capital from the 400s to the 800s, Copan is one of the largest and most impressive of all the Mayan centers discovered so far. It consists of pyramids, temples and 21 stone pillars, or stelae, with exquisite carved likenesses of ancient Copan kings. Although Tikal in Guatemala is the largest...
Copenhagen, Denmark, is a city with historical charm and a contemporary style that feels effortless. It is an old merchants' town overlooking the entrance to the Baltic Sea with so many architectural treasures that it's known as the "City of Beautiful Spires." This socially progressive and tolera...
A system of very deep canyons (deeper than the Grand Canyon in the U.S.), Copper Canyon is carved into the rugged Sierra Madre Occidental mountains in northwestern Mexico, about 300 mi/485 km southwest of El Paso, Texas. Although some of the area (also known as Sierra Tarahumara) can be reached by b...
Long revered for its unbelievable ski conditions, Copper Mountain is the locals' favorite and ideal for every level of skier. It includes 2,433 acres/985 hectares of skiable terrain. The area's easier terrain is separate from the more challenging courses. Beginners should take the American Flyer lif...
Covering one-third of the Osa Peninsula on the Pacific coast near the Panamanian border, Corcovado is one of the country's wildest and most remote parks. Its thick forests, deserted beaches and swamps are home to most of the country's endangered species, including jaguars, tapirs, scarlet macaws, fo...
Widely considered one of the most beautiful villages in the country, little Cordes sur Ciel, France, is also one of the most popular. It's a medieval hilltop town 50 mi/80 km northeast of Toulouse with a charming central (arcaded) square dating from 1352. The tiny lanes leading up to the village a...
As capital of the Umayyad caliphate of Spain (929-1031), Cordoba was one of the largest and most advanced cities in the medieval world. The splendor of that period can still be seen in the Mezquita (built and enlarged between the eighth and 10th centuries), known as one of the greatest sights in Spa...
Colonial Cordoba, Argentina, the nation's second-largest city, lies 400 mi/645 km northwest of Buenos Aires in the center of a many-rivered region. Although it receives few tourists, the area will appeal to anyone attracted to a relaxed, natural lifestyle amid rolling hills and valleys (the land is ...
Cordova, Alaska, is a quiet town tucked away in a corner of Prince William Sound about 50 mi/80 km southeast of Valdez and 176 mi/281 km by air southeast of Anchorage. It's also the doorstep to the 2-million-acre/810,000-hectare Copper River Delta, where millions of shorebirds—the largest such gathe...
Part of the Ionian chain, about 300 mi/475 km northwest of Athens, Corfu is one of Greece's most beautiful islands. Once renowned for its notorious nightlife (which is now mainly confined to rowdy Kavos on the south coast), it has rich scenery, numerous cypress and olive groves, rugged mountains, s...
Corinth, Greece, located 53 mi/86 km west of Athens, consists of both an old and a new town 4 mi/7 km apart. It is worth a half-day visit. The old town, where St. Paul once preached, is by far the more interesting of the two. Be sure to stroll its lively waterfront area, take in the view from the Ac...
Located about 140 mi/225 km by road southwest of Dublin, Cork is Ireland's second largest city—but that doesn't mean it plays second fiddle. The city has gained a reputation for its burgeoning craft brewing scene, plus its proximity to the sweeping Atlantic coastline and picturesque maritime towns—...
Some describe Nicaragua's Corn Islands as being among the last undiscovered jewels of the Caribbean. They are located on the Miskito Coast, practically a world away from the rest of the country both culturally (Creole people inhabit the islands) and physically, as they are cut off from the rest of N...
Corner Brook is Newfoundland and Labrador's second-largest city. It's at the mouth of the Humber River, about 250 mi/400 km northwest of St. John's. Be sure to see the Captain James Cook Monument National Historic Site, which commemorates the great explorer's charting of the area (there's a monume...
Unlike the other towns of Cinque Terre, the village of Corniglia overlooks the sea from the top of a 330-ft-/100-m-high promontory. A steep staircase and street lead up to the village. A bus service from the train station to the village is also available for 2.50 euros (the ticket is included in the...
Overview Introduction A state capital, Coro has some of the country's best-preserved architecture in its Zona Colonial, including the city's cathedral, which was started in 1583, making it the second-oldest church in Venezuela. Numerous museums are installed in handsome colonial structures. Among...
On New Zealand's North Island, across the Firth of Thames and 70 mi/115 km east of Auckland, the rugged Coromandel Peninsula offers spectacular scenery. The drive along the coast winds past bays, beaches and green fields edged with cliffs that plunge into the sea. Trips into the interior bush let vi...
Located north of Gustavia, Corossol is a tiny fishing village surrounded by green hills. The 300 residents speak an old Norman dialect, and a very few older women still wear provincial dress, including white sunbonnets called the quichenottes (kiss me not). North of Corossol is Colombier, a resi...
Located near the Mexican border and approximately 95 mi/155 km north of Belize City, Corozal Town is often overlooked by visitors but is a friendly town with a Latin atmosphere. Increasingly popular with expats, Corozal has among the lowest prices in Belize for hotels, restaurants and real estate. I...
Corpus Christi's balmy weather, white-sand beaches, deep-sea fishing and proximity to Padre Island National Seashore lure thousands of visitors every year. Thousands more go to visit the Texas State Aquarium, the only first-class aquarium in the state. Its exhibits explore the sea life of the Gulf ...
Located on the Parana River 485 mi/780 km north of Buenos Aires, Corrientes, Argentina, and its sister city, Resistencia, provide an appealing stop on the overland trip to Iguazu Falls. Corrientes was founded in 1588 and has an interesting museum, a Renaissance-style cathedral and a modern universit...
Corriverton is located about 195 mi/313 km from Georgetown on the eastern side of Guyana, in the county of Berbice. It is made up of two towns named Skeldon and Springland, situated at the end of the coastal road from Georgetown (which begins at Guyana's second-largest city of New Amsterdam), on the...
Set in a valley in the Sierra Madre foothills, about a two-hour drive north of Mazatlan, Cosala was designated one of the Mexican Ministry of Tourism's Pueblos Magicos, or magical towns. These towns are part of a program designed to showcase quaint, historical places located near major tourist desti...
The coast of Alicante province is known as the Costa Blanca and is a major destination for beach holidays. Its main city, and the location of an international airport, is Alicante, 225 mi/360 km southeast of Madrid. It is looked down upon by the imposing Castillo de Santa Barbara, from which there ...
The Costa del Sol has some of the finest beaches in Spain. Lying 260 mi/420 km south of Madrid, the famous Sun Coast area officially stretches along the Mediterranean from Nerja (east of Malaga) to Gibraltar. Unofficially, many people think of it as including the beautiful coast south of Granada, th...
An hour's drive over a good highway from San Salvador, the resort area of Costa del Sol, El Salvador, is well-developed for tourism, with luxury hotels, homes and cottages set along a 10-mi/16-km stretch of gray-sand beach. Costa del Sol offers deep-sea fishing, surfing, swimming, golf, beach picn...
Though Cancun and the Riviera Maya get the most attention from visitors to Mexico's Caribbean coast, interest in Costa Maya (or Grand Costa Maya) has been growing. The area, which starts a four- to five-hour drive south of Cancun, stretches from Punta Allen south to the border with Belize. It's more...
Costa Rica's diverse natural landscape, coupled with an abundance of outdoor activities and a focus on environmental sustainability and preservation, make it no surprise that the country has been rated as one of the happiest places on Earth. Visitors can fly through the rain-forest canopy on a zi...
Named for the ancient Atlantic forest that covers much of the shoreline, the Costa Verde (Green Coast) 175 mi/280 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro offers relaxing day and weekend trips from Rio de Janiero as well as Sao Paulo. Locals favor its charm and authenticity over fancier Buzios. The drive fr...
Those who are most interested in history and culture will want to drive north from Lisbon to the Minho region, which runs from Galicia in northwestern Spain to just north of Porto in Portugal. This is the cradle of the Portuguese nation—Celts, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims all settled there. Plan ...
The Cote d'Azur, also known as the French Riviera, is famous for its beaches, scenery and moderate climate. The region stretches from Marseille to the border with Italy, with the most popular portions on the eastern end. Well-known towns in the French Riviera include Nice, Antibes, Cannes and St. T...
In Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), gleaming modernism coexists with rich traditions of West Africa. Impenetrable forests adjoin cultivated fields, and wild game parks lie just minutes from bustling cities. For years, Cote d'Ivoire's combination of modern comforts, local cultures and untamed land made i...
This sprawling administrative and commercial center isn't the official capital, but serves as the de facto one. It's a fairly ugly city—the architecture might be described as Late Stalinist Gothic. Any time spent in the city can be partially repaid by a visit to the Dantokpa Market, a bustling da...
At 19,345 ft/5,895 m, Ecuador's Cotopaxi mountain is said to be the highest continuously active volcano in the world. Whether you get close to the summit or not, the view of its perfectly shaped, snow-covered cone is stunning—if you get a clear day. The national park, located 35 mi/55 km south of Qu...
The beautiful Cotswolds area is one of our favorites. With its small villages of thatch-roofed stone cottages, rolling meadows, grazing sheep and stately manor homes, it looks like what England is supposed to look like. Bordered roughly by Oxford to the southeast, Bath to the southwest, Stratford-...
The town of Council Bluffs, Iowa, just across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, has long been an important site for westward migration in the U.S. It was the location of many Native American powwows, and in 1804, explorers Merriwether Lewis and William Clark met with representatives of two tr...
Overview Introduction County Antrim, about 15 mi/25 km northwest of Belfast, holds some of Northern Ireland's most beguiling attractions. Among its draws are the Giant's Causeway and the 90-ft-/30-m-tall round tower in Antrim Town, the most perfectly preserved structure of its kind in all of Irel...
Encompassing a scenic stretch of Ireland's west coast, County Clare holds several of western Ireland's foremost natural attractions. Beginning at the northern edge of the county (near Galway) is the Burren, a vast expanse of limestone that has an almost lunar look. It's dotted with dolmens (ancient ...
County Kerry, probably the most visited county in all of Ireland, is where you'll find the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula and Killarney. We suggest a minimum of three days in the county, which is about 70 mi/113 km from Shannon Airport. The Ring of Kerry long has been one of the must-sees of I...
Probably the biggest attraction of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, which is just west of Belfast, is the Ulster-American Folk Park, 5 mi/8 km north of Omagh. Built on the birthplace of U.S. millionaire Thomas Mellon (father of Andrew Mellon), the park features an outdoor museum with ironworks, a we...
Overview Introduction Located 25 mi/40 km northeast of Mahe and a triumph for conservation, Cousin Island's bird sanctuary has rescued the Seychelles warbler from near extinction. Under the management of Nature Seychelles, the sanctuary is popular with visitors from Praslin, a 30-minute boat trip...
Coventry, Connecticut, located about 20 mi/32 km east of Hartford, provides a nice day trip from Hartford. Coventry is the site of the Nathan Hale Homestead. https://ctlandmarks.org/properties/nathan-hale-homestead. Nearby Woodstock (about 20 mi/32 km east of Coventry) is a charming rural town t...
Just across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio, this appealing little community is nestled under several bridges, including the Roebling Suspension Bridge, the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge. For travelers to the Cincinnati area, Covington offers an attractive alternative (or supplement) to the big ...
Near the border with Myanmar, this town is noted for one of the world's longest and least-crowded beaches—an incredible 75-mi/121-km stretch of silvery gold sand, backed by tropical-forested hills. We found the shore to be especially impressive at sunrise and sunset, when the sand appears to change ...
Cozumel, Mexico, should not be compared to Cancun, the splashy resort just 40 mi/65 km to the north and one of its nearest neighbors. In the past, Cozumel had a laid-back, sedate atmosphere, and its superior fishing, snorkeling and diving gave it a definite edge. Today, Cozumel retains its unique...
This national park offers access to a spectacular volcanic caldera containing the nation's deepest lake, Crater Lake—1,943 ft/592 m from the lake's surface to its floor. The lake is surrounded by a rim rising nearly 2,000 ft/610 m above the shoreline From the visitors' center in Rim Village, visit...
Overview Introduction This newly created wildlife preserve holds lush rain forest filled with large caves, waterfalls and birds of paradise. Twenty clans donated the 1,000 sq mi/2,600 sq km of land for the park, which is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. The only way to get to this pr...
The quaint town of Crested Butte, Colorado, a National Historic District located about 230 mi/370 km southwest of Denver, is isolated in the wintertime when the dirt road over Kebler Pass is closed. Crested Butte's ski area is known for its "Extreme Limits" section—some 448 acres/181 hectares of u...
The island of Crete is Greece's largest island and home to Europe's first civilization more than 5,000 years ago. The island is scattered with world-class heritage sites ranging from the 3,500-year-old Minoan palaces and Roman cities to medieval castles, Renaissance towns and historic monasteries. ...
Cripple Creek, Colorado, is on the southern slopes of Pikes Peak in Teller County, 25 mi/40 km southwest of Colorado Springs. What was once a prosperous gold-mining town has turned into a modern-day casino and is one of three cities in the state approved for limited-stakes gambling. Also, in usual ...
Every year, more and more visitors are vacationing in friendly, picturesque Croatia along the Adriatic coast. It has much to offer: good food, good wine, beautiful beaches, clean water, gorgeous scenery, historic cities, charming villages, striking architecture, Roman ruins, ten UNESCO World Herita...
The tunnels of Cu Chi, Vietnam, are a haunting memory of past conflicts. The extensive underground system 20 mi/30 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City was begun by the Viet Minh, who dug the first tunnels in 1948. They came to include housing and tactical quarters for the Viet Cong as well as storage r...
Although only 90 mi/145 km separate U.S. soil from Cuba, the two nations are as distinct as a thumbprint. A communist country since Fidel Castro seized power in 1959, Cuba is enigmatic, eccentric and exciting—a time-warp land of socialism and sensuality that mingles sizzling salsa rhythms with revo...
Panama hats are the trademark of Cuenca, Ecuador's third-largest and arguably most beautiful city—the misnamed toppers were first manufactured in the Cuenca area and continue to be produced there. The town, located 80 mi/130 km southeast of Guayaquil and honored as a UNESCO World Heritage site sin...
Lying 100 mi/160 km east of Madrid, Cuenca, Spain, is known for its hanging houses, which perch precariously on high cliffs overlooking the Huecar River. Set inside one of the hanging houses, the magnificent Spanish Abstract Art Museum displays works of Spanish abstract artists and sculptors, Gothic...
Known as the City of Eternal Spring, Cuernavaca is 50 mi/80 km south of Mexico City. It is 2,000 ft/610 m lower in elevation than the capital and enjoys a wonderful climate where people go to relax, enjoy the sunshine and get out of Mexico City's smog for the weekend. There are frequent bus connecti...
Culebra, Puerto Rico, is a remote, sleepy island with long stretches of pristine, uncrowded white-sand beach. Located about 45 mi/72 km east of San Juan, Culebra is a great escape from the development and faster pace of the main island. Along with the island of Vieques, Culebra has the best diving...
Residents of Cumana boast that it was the first city built by Europeans on the South American continent (1521), although that honor actually goes to Colombia's Santa Maria le Antigua del Darien, founded in 1510. Still, Cumana is South America's oldest continuously inhabited city founded by Europeans...
Cumberland, Maryland, is located in the mountainous western panhandle of the state near West Virginia, 135 mi/215 km west of Baltimore. Cumberland (founded in 1754) was once a colonial fort; George Washington headed up his first military command there. You can see the small cabin that was his headqu...
Pioneers crossed Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, as they traveled the Wilderness Road to the West, thanks in large part to Daniel Boone's explorations. Today, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park is the second-largest in the country, with more than 20,000 acres/8,100 hectares in Tennessee, Kentucky and ...
Thanks in large part to Daniel Boone's explorations, pioneers crossed the Cumberland Gap as they traveled the Wilderness Road to Kentucky. Today, Cumberland Gap is the second-largest national historical park in the country, with more than 20,000 acres/8,100 hectares in Virginia, Kentucky and Tenness...
Thanks in large part to Daniel Boone's explorations, pioneers were able to cross the Cumberland Gap as they traveled the Wilderness Road to the West. Today, Cumberland Gap is one of the largest national historical parks in the country, with territory in Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The headquar...
Known as part of the ABC island chain (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao), for years this former Dutch colony took a back seat to its rival islets. Curacao is a curious place. Its Dutch colonial buildings painted in shades of yellow, orange and blue are reminiscent of Amsterdam, yet the dry climate, barren s...
Overview Introduction Curepipe, the commercial center of Mauritius, is 10 mi/16 km southeast of Port Louis and has a good variety of restaurants and shops. The town is the center of the model-ship industry. A few miles/kilometers southwest is Trou aux Cerfs, an extinct volcano whose enormous crat...
Curieuse Island is home to a giant tortoise sanctuary with over 500 of the magnificent animals only found in the Seychelles Islands and is also home to the famous Coco de Mer tree. The island is located 35 mi/55 km northeast of Mahe. The Aldabra tortoises found on Curieuse are similar to Galapagos ...
The capital of the state of Parana is an appealing, well-functioning clean city 420 mi/675 km southwest of Rio de Janeiro that is finally getting the attention it deserves. Settled by Germans, Poles and Italians, Curitiba is usually a way station on the highway from Sao Paulo to Iguacu Falls or poin...
Located about 370 mi/600 km southeast of Lima, the city of Cusco, Peru, is the ancient capital of the Incan Empire, situated high in the Andes. There are numerous versions of the Incan creation myth. One legend says that Manco Capac and his sister-consort, Mama Ocllo, descended from the sun and se...
Custer, 30 mi/50 km south of Rapid City, is one of the most interesting state parks in South Dakota: It contains one of the world's largest buffalo herds, some 1,500 strong, as well as a lot of other wildlife—elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mountain goats and donkeys. This huge area (71,000 acres/28,...
Overview Introduction Set like gems in the sparkling blue Aegean Sea, each of the Cyclades Islands has its own character. But all the islands share a common theme of scenic views and beautiful beaches. More than 220 islands comprise the Cyclades Islands, but the most famous are Mykonos, Santorini...
Oasislike Cypress Hills Provincial Park, 220 mi/355 km southeast of Calgary, has been popular for centuries and boasts the distinction of being the first park shared by two provinces (Alberta and Saskatchewan) in Canada. Located in the prairie country, Cypress Hills is a pretty area of small lakes...
Visiting Cyprus is a little like ordering mezes, or appetizers, at one of the island's cafes. With mezes, you get several small, tasty servings of the island's traditional foods. And with a visit to Cyprus, you get a tantalizing taste of what both Greece and Turkey have to offer: sunny Mediterranean...
For most visitors to the Czech Republic, all roads lead no farther than Prague—the country's most westernized, cosmopolitan city, known for its wondrous charm and stunning beauty. Less than 10% of tourists to the Czech Republic explore the country outside of the capital. But if you really wish to d...
Czestochowa, Poland, (pronounced ches-toe-HOE-vuh ), 130 mi/210 km southwest of Warsaw, is primarily of interest to devout Catholics. It's home to the holiest relic in Poland, the Black Madonna, also known as "Our Lady of Czestochowa." The object, a painted wooden panel, is kept in the 600-year-old...
A list of travel tips and tricks for c.
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4/23Step into a world where flavors dance on your palate, where every bite tells a story, and every sip takes you on a journey. Welcome to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2024, where culina...
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4/19I recently flew Icelandair ( economy ) for the first and probably last time! Founded in 1937 first operating domestic routes. Later merged with another airline to form Flugfélag Íslands, which even...
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4/12Cancun is a destination synonymous with luxury, relaxation, and vibrant culture, nestled along the breathtaking Caribbean coastline of Mexico. But did you know that this tropical paradise extends far ...
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4/10As the days grow shorter and a chill settle in the air, I find myself eagerly anticipating my upcoming journey to Norway, a land of untamed beauty and rich cultural heritage. In just a few weeks, I'll...
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