Dates Released For 2025 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Spring Blooms Ahead: EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival 2025 Get ready to stop and smell the roses … and the orchids, and the geraniums, and the citrus blossoms! The ...
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Much of Gabon looks like the old Hollywood image of African jungle, with mysterious rivers wending their way through dense forest filled with chattering monkeys and exotic birds. But when it comes to jungle, Gabon is the real thing: More than three-quarters of the country is covered in tropical fore...
Gaborone, Botswana, a sprawling and unattractive capital city, does not invite much lingering. Gaborone's best attraction is the national museum, which displays a wonderful collection of local handicrafts and traditional objects. The museum also has a number of stuffed animals. About 25 mi/40 km s...
Located in the middle of Bulgaria's Balkan Mountains, halfway between Sofia and the Black Sea coast, 124 mi/200 km from Sofia, the town of Gabrovo is surrounded by lots of greenery and is noted for its Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Its most unique feature, however, is the Ethno Village ...
Gainesville's subtle landscape offers more than stereotypical Florida scenery. Visitors to Gainesville will see palm trees, yes, but also massive live-oak trees draped with hanging moss. The city's tree canopy creates a comforting and inclusive atmosphere for visitors, making Gainesville less a cit...
Penguins and dolphins, sea lions and iguanas, tropical birds and giant tortoises—this collection of species comes together in a single destination on the equator. It's no surprise that these islands, 600 mi/970 km off the coast of Ecuador, are so special. Their remoteness from other landmasses and t...
In northwestern Illinois, 165 mi/265 km from Chicago and near both Wisconsin and Iowa, this uncharacteristically hilly little town is one of the state's most picturesque. This beauty grew from the rather nonpicturesque industry of lead mining: The surrounding area yielded much of the world's lead in...
Overview Introduction The main reasons to go to Galibi Reserve, 85 mi/135 km east of Paramaribo, are to see the highly endangered Ridley sea turtles that nest there in June and July and to visit a Carib village in the reserve. To get there, you must arrange boat transportation from the nearby tow...
The country's northern region about 70 mi/115 km northeast of Jerusalem, Galilee, Israel, is green and hilly in parts and offers some of the country's prettiest scenery, especially in the spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom. Galilee is a major destination for Christian pilgrims, because many...
There is a lot to do and see around the small community of Gallatin Gateway, Montana, including hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing, white-water rafting, skiing, mountain biking, golf, shopping, snowshoeing, wildlife tours and snowmobiling. The Museum of the Rockies is home base of paleontologis...
This city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 65 mi/105 km south of Colombo, is a must-see for colonial-architecture buffs. Declared an UNESCO World Heritage site, its main attraction is a still-inhabited 17th-century Dutch fort, one of the most extensive monuments left by European colonialists. Alt...
The importance of the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, cannot be overestimated. Had the British Empire's troops prevailed at the battle there, 125 mi/200 km southwest of Istanbul, World War I would have been considerably shorter and the course of modern history changed. As it was, Turkish machine-gun ...
You may find yourself passing through Gallup, 130 mi/210 km west of Albuquerque: Both Interstate 40 and Amtrak's Southwest Chief rail line run through town, as does a portion of old Route 66 (the town even gets a mention in the musical tribute to the highway, "Get Your Kicks on Route 66"). Located...
Galveston, Texas, is a charming, slow-paced island city along the Gulf of Mexico. A popular Texas tourism destination, Galveston is home to lots of lovely beaches, restored 19th-century storefronts and fancy Victorian mansions. Galveston has approximately 1,500 landmarks listed on the National Regi...
Straddling the River Corrib on Ireland's west coast about 40 mi/65 km north of Shannon Airport, Galway exudes a youthful liberalism rarely found in Ireland. Galway's own large population of college students is bolstered by the influx of young adults from across Ireland (and many from mainland Europ...
On a map, The Gambia resembles a bent toothpick piercing the coast of Senegal. A tiny sliver of a country in West Africa, it is little wider than the banks of the River Gambia. Enough of the country, however, lies on the coast where clusters of oceanside resorts cater to European and Canadian touris...
India's game parks promise almost as much adventure, mystery and beauty as their African counterparts and contain similar animals: hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, antelope, buffalo, elephants, monkeys, crocodiles and a splendid assortment of colorful birds. But India is the only place in the world where...
While the game parks in Cameroon don't really compare with the best that eastern and southern Africa have to offer, they're well managed and quite good for western Africa. We recommend that travelers stay in Maroua and take day trips to the various reserves. This whole region abounds in traditional ...
Overview Introduction This village on the Rhine merits a short stop to see the ruins of an early church on a nearby hill. 6 mi/10 km north of Vaduz.
Overview Introduction Home of the celebrated 12th-century poet Nizami Gancavi, the city is considered the country's literary center. It's prettier than most Azerbaijani towns and retains a strong German influence in its architecture. Several thousand ethnic Germans still live there. The road from...
Familiar to U.S. and Canadian veterans of World War II as the Crossroads of the World, Gander is still a major aviation center for trans-Atlantic flights stopping off in Newfoundland and Labrador. Be sure to visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum (https://northatlanticaviationmuseum.com), locate...
Overview Introduction Although not a must-see, the eastern city of Gangneung, 110 mi/175 km east of Seoul, is well-known for the five-day Dano Festival held in May. This traditional festival celebrates the planting season and features parades, dances and traditional Korean competitions. The city ...
A tiny village 10,000 ft/3,000 m up in the Himalayas and 200 mi/320 km northeast of Delhi, Gangotri, India—along with nearby Badrinath, Yamunotri and Kedernath—is one of the four great mountain shrines in the Garhwal Himalaya, a vast region of primeval forest and towering mountains. It's also the ba...
Overview Introduction Colorful Gangtey, located in the central region, isn't often visited by foreigners because it's somewhat remote and difficult to get to. For those who venture there, at least a one-night stay is suggested, although the opening of the luxury property Gangtey Lodge is leading ...
Even if you hate the standard tourist places, Ganvie (pronounced gone-vee-AY ) is a must-see. It's referred to as the tropical Venice because the thatched bamboo houses stand on stilts over water. They've been built this way since the 16th and 17th centuries, when the town's settlers left mainland ...
Overview Introduction Although it used to be one of the region's most important cities and capital of the once mighty Songhai Empire, today's Gao, located 575 mi/925 km northeast of Bamako, attracts few tourists. The town was destroyed by Moroccan invaders in 1591 and, despite its prime location ...
This town in a hilly tree-dotted savanna area in the south is the center of the Lobi people. Considered the most isolated group in the country, the Lobi are known for their wood carving and eerie multistory mud fortresses, similar to the dwellings of the Sombas of Benin. The Lobi cultural museum ha...
Technically, the scenic road known as the Garden Route, South Africa—famous for its beautiful wildflowers, forests and mountainous coastline—runs along the coast from Mossel Bay to the Storms River. However, the entire drive from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth is spectacular. It takes three days to dri...
Overview Introduction Located at the North Entrance of Yellowstone, Gardiner sits at the bottom of the aptly named Paradise Valley. Like West Yellowstone, it offers a wide range of accommodations, restaurants, shops and recreational opportunities. The Yellowstone River runs through the center of ...
Overview Introduction Once the refuge of Armenian kings, Garni is home to the 2,200-year-old Garni Fortress. The highlight of the site is the basalt Temple of the Sun (completed in AD 66). It was fully restored in 1976 and is surrounded by Ionic columns. Next to the temple is a Roman bath, comple...
The Gaspe (pronounced Gah-SPAY ) Peninsula is one of the most beautiful regions in all of Quebec. This is an area where you should just drive, shop for antiques, eat great food, see the countryside, explore the tiny fishing villages, lie on the beaches and visit with the people. Ideally, this trip ...
The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, a huge 8.2-million-acre/3.3-million-hectare preserve 200 mi/322 km northwest of Fairbanks, is one of the most stunning expanses of wilderness anywhere in the world. It preserves a good portion of the majestic Brooks Range. The park isn't easy to ...
Sitting at the edge of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and its neighbors Pigeon Forge and Sevierville form the busiest tourism hub in eastern Tennessee. The area is popular with vacationing families, and its many wedding chapels also draw couples. The towns owe their existence, in part...
If the weather is right, a few days in the densely wooded Gauja National Park, just 20 mi/30 km northeast of Riga, can be the highlight of a trip to Latvia. Set in the Gauja River Valley, Gauja National Park is the largest national park in Latvia and is less than an hour's drive from Riga. It has sc...
The bustling city of Gaziantep, Turkey, 438 mi/705 km southeast of Ankara, boasts a fine collection of Roman mosaics at the Gaziantep Museum and is justifiably famous for its food, especially anything made with the local pistachios ( fistik ), from baklava to kebabs. Nearby Kilis (40 mi/65 km sout...
Gdansk, Poland, an old port city on the Gulf of Danzig about 180 mi/290 km northwest of Warsaw, was established in the 10th century and is one of Poland's loveliest cities. Allow at least a day to see the ornate row houses in the Old City (Stare Miasto) and to visit the port with its landmark, th...
Overview Introduction This monastery was named after its most famous religious artifact, the lance that was said to have pierced the side of Christ (the lance has since been moved to Echmiadzin). Travelers should still visit Geghard, which has plenty to see, even without the lance: The buildings ...
Overview Introduction The small town of Geiranger, Norway, is at the base of the famous Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Impressive waterfalls tumble over steep cliffs along the fjord's banks, including the famous Seven Sisters, Suitor and Bridal Veil falls. Abandoned farms dot the l...
Overview Introduction Gelib, on the Uebi Giuba River, lies near an area with many wild animals (monkeys, gazelles and numerous birds). Though there are currently no national parks in Somalia, the area south of Gelib is expected to one day become the Lag Badana National Park. 200 mi/320 km southw...
The "discreet charm" of bourgeois yet vibrant Geneva may be subtle, but it grows rapidly on visitors and residents alike. From the Mont Blanc bridge in the evening, when the skyline of gracious, orderly stone buildings is reflected on the lake, Geneva's charm is visible to all. Without a doubt, thi...
Genoa, Italy, an industrial port city in the center of the Italian Riviera about 97 mi/156 km south of Milan, is known primarily as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus—you can visit his tall Gothic home near the Porta Soprana. The city has numerous piazzas, churches, a medieval inner city, Ren...
The northernmost island with visitor sites, Genovesa is small, with steep rocky cliffs that are flat on top and covered with legions of sea birds. This is the best place to see red-footed boobies—in fact, visitors will likely bump into several nesting in trees after they climb up from Darwin Bay on ...
Built at a moderately high altitude (6,550 ft/2,000 m) to take advantage of the cool breezes, Genting is where many residents of Kuala Lumpur go to relax, escape the heat, gamble in the casino and let the kids play in the theme park. Located 85 mi/140 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, the integrated res...
Covering hillsides throughout the Atacama Desert, geoglyphs, giant geometrical and figurative designs, derive from dark surfaces scraped clear to reveal lighter material beneath them. Some are identifiable as fish, birds and llamas, and others are more abstract. Some are more than 1,000 years old. ...
Nicknamed the Silver Queen of the Rockies, 40 mi/65 km west of Denver, Georgetown has more than 200 restored Victorian buildings painted in such colors as hot pink, lemon and purple. Of particular interest are the Hamill House (a lavish Victorian home with a six-seat outhouse), the Hotel de Paris Mu...
Founded in 1823, this decaying African town is built on a European-style street plan. Georgetown's heyday was during the steamship era, when it was a trading center. It has a famous boys school and the country's main prison (they are not related). Though this may not sound particularly attractive, w...
Georgetown, Guyana's capital city, is very small but densely populated (237,000). It lies on a coastal belt 6 ft/2 m below sea level, at the mouth of the Demerara River. Georgetown has charm and a faded Victorian elegance with wide tree-lined avenues, canals covered in lilies and many 18th- and 19t...
Located 180 mi/290 km northwest of Kuala Lumpur and the largest city on Penang Island, George Town is a wonderful blend of cultures. The diverse Chinese, Indian and Malay population is fitting of an exotic Southeast Asian seaport. In 2008, George Town was accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Cultu...
The largest state east of the Mississippi River is 300 mi/480 km from top to bottom, and 230 mi/370 km at its greatest width. The 9 million citizens of "The Empire State" or "The Peach State" practice southern hospitality, follow the Atlanta Braves religiously, eat more pork barbecue than fried chic...
During the years it was part of the Soviet Union, Georgia was the top destination in Caucasia, offering magnificent monasteries, historic sites and scenic mountains. Wedged between Russia and Turkey, with a long shoreline on the Black Sea, it was known for its balmy climate and its fabulous food and...
Overview Introduction This small town, 60 mi/95 km southwest of Montgomery, is where singer Hank Williams Sr. spent his early years. The town hosts the Hank Williams Festival on the first weekend in June near the Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum. Largely a music festival, it usually incl...
Overview Introduction This now unpopulated site in the desert is thought to have been Garama, the capital of the Kingdom of Garamantes, mentioned by Herodotus and other ancient writers. The earliest artifacts date back to the first millennium BC. Don't miss the Archaeological Museum. The remains ...
Though Germany is weathering the world financial difficulties better than most countries, the impact of unification at the end of the Cold War means there are still significant disparities between east and west. Nevertheless, continued significant investment in public services, research and developm...
Perhaps no other place can conjure such powerful ghosts of blue and gray, smoke and battle, loss and death as Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: It was along the ridges near this small city, 117 mi/189 km west of Philadelphia, that the Civil War reached a crucial turning point. Today, it's the country's larg...
Overview Introduction This traditional oasis village, named a World Heritage Site, was first populated by ancestors of the Tuareg people and later became the southernmost outpost of the Roman Empire. Today, the old town is for the most part no longer inhabited, but its fascinating collection of w...
Ghana, known as West Africa's Gold Coast during the colonial era, is better known for its lovely beaches, lively nightlife, good roads, variety of landscapes and friendly people than for dramatic scenery or wild animals. But these assets make Ghana a safe and fascinating introduction to West Africa....
Ghanzi, Botswana, an agricultural center 325 mi/525 km northwest of Gaborone, is mainly a fuel stop, but it's also a good place to buy handicrafts made by the San people, especially dyed cloth, bead and eggshell jewelry, puppets, and bows and arrows. Just north of Ghanzi is the D'Kar Mission, oppo...
Overview Introduction As you approach it, this 11th-century oasis town looks somewhat like San Francisco: It's built on hills, its mosque (constructed in the Sudanese style) is reminiscent of Coit Tower, there are few trees on the streets, and the buildings are painted in lovely pastel shades. A ...
Overview Introduction Getting to this Tuareg outpost requires a flight or a grueling drive through the desert (we suggest flying one way). The main reason to visit the village is to experience the drive there along an ancient Saharan trade route. Each leg of the journey can take several days, and...
Overview Introduction Ghazni was one of the most powerful capitals in the world during the time of the Ghaznevid Empire, which stretched from the Tigris to the Ganges. Today Ghazni is not very large, but it does have a fabulous minaret shaped like a double star, as well as a museum, an excavated ...
Ghent (35 mi/56 km northwest of Brussels) is set on the banks of three rivers—the Lys, Lieve and Scheldt. This university town has a nice combination of the ancient and the contemporary—and fewer tourists than Bruges, even though it isn't quite as perfectly preserved as its neighbor. The old sect...
Overview Introduction This sparsely populated Berber village is famous for its weaving. Attractions also include camels, the little Sidi Arfa Mosque and local architecture (houses crammed in between huge rocks). About 4 mi/6 km north is the well-preserved Ksar Haddada, now an inn ( marhal ). Whil...
Overview Introduction Not often visited by travelers, Ghoubbet al Kharab (Bay of Ghoubbet) is a bay with impressive beaches bordered by sheer black-lava cliffs. It's a nice place to stop for a swim and lunch (take your own food). Snorkelers might encounter whale sharks in the winter. In the middl...
Overview Introduction Near the town of Bushmills, the Giant's Causeway is one of the most famous and dramatic sights in Northern Ireland. This UNESCO World Heritage site is 50 mi/80 km north of Belfast, and legend holds that the 37,000 hexagonal basalt columns jutting out of the sea were put in p...
Gibraltar, a British colony is grafted onto a steep, rocky Spanish hillside at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea 310 mi/500 km south of Madrid. Gibraltar merits at least a half-day's visit. The Rock, which has been British since 1704, is only 2 mi/5 km long, but it has several attractions, among ...
The most notable thing about the town of Giethoorn is what you don't see: cars. The preferred mode of transportation is flat-bottomed boats. Stop for a while and watch farmers taking cows to pasture on them. The spectacle is a popular one, and Giethoorn can get crowded in July and August. Plan to ...
Gig Harbor, just across the Narrows Bridge from Tacoma, Washington, is the quintessential waterside village. Gig Harbor offers the most scenic harbor on Puget Sound. The waterfront is full of fishing and sailing boats, tall pine trees and tropical-style houses lining the shore, with Mount Rainer in...
Overview Introduction An old Buddhist center in the disputed Northwest Frontier Province, Gilgit is surrounded by mountains. It offers beautiful scenery, traditional music, trout fishing, polo matches (usually with a traditional music group providing a soundtrack), and excellent mountain and trek...
When an erupting volcano threatened their homes in 1875, a number of Icelanders left their homeland and ended up around Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. They formed their own short-lived nation, the Republic of New Iceland. Gimli and Hecla Island are two vestiges of that settlement and still possess the...
Girona, the ancient "Gerunda," is capital of Catalonia's fertile Lower Ampurdan region of green fields, olives, vines and neatly arrayed poplars all presided over by the towering distant Pyrenees. Here Iberians, Romans, Arabs and Visigoths have all come and gone, leaving a rich palimpsest of past im...
Being one of the less-visited parts of New Zealand probably makes Gisborne all the more worth a visit. Gisborne is 203 mi/328 km east of Taupo. The Gisborne region was one of the first places in New Zealand settled by Maori and was also the site of Capt. Cook's first landing in 1769. Famed for bei...
Overview Introduction The sleepy resort town of Gisenyi, with its landscaped villas and posh hotels overlooking a lovely beach on Lake Kivu, 60 mi/100 km northwest of Kigali, is an ideal place to visit in conjunction with the nearby Volcanoes National Park. The lake is reputedly one of the few fr...
This town (pop. 16,000) is the only urban area of any size outside Bujumbura. It's the headquarters of Burundi's institutes of science and culture. The national museum is just outside the center of town and, while very basic, is worth the visit. The outdoor market there is one of Burundi's best. An...
Giurgiu is located on the mud flats and marshes of the Danube River, across the bay from Rousse, Bulgaria. A large island, Smarda, shelters the port. Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is located 39 mi/63 km from the town. The fastest way to travel to Bucharest is to take a bus, which takes slight...
In the minds of art lovers, Claude Monet and Giverny are forever entwined. He lived in the town 50 mi/80 km west of Paris from 1883 until his death in 1926, tending the gardens he so beautifully depicted in some of his best works. Many of those paintings are now on display at the Orangerie and Marmo...
Though less than a 10th the size of the capital, Gizo is considered the Solomons' second "city." It is also the business and administrative center of the Western Solomons: There are several flights a day to the town. Gizo has an adequate hotel and several clean, comfortable guesthouses, plus banks, ...
Like Berat, Gjirokaster is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was also spared from communist-style building projects. The city's second name—the City of Stairs—refers to Gjirokaster's mountainous terrain and the stairs you have to climb to visit its impressive, fortress-style buildings. The main att...
At the northern end of the Inside Passage, 550 mi/880 km southeast of Anchorage, the Glacier Bay National Park waterway stretches for 65 mi/105 km and contains 16 tidewater glaciers. In 1980, Glacier Bay became a U.S. national park and preserve. It encompasses 3.2 million acres/1.3 million hectares...
This park contains a spectacular array of glaciers, hundreds of lakes, waterfalls, trout streams, cliffs, forests, wildflowers and mountains. Glacier is the U.S. portion of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a joint preserve and recreation area maintained by the U.S. and Canada. Its beauty m...
Glaciers National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site 1,300 mi/2,080 km southwest of Buenos Aires, has some of the most spectacular sights in Argentina. One of the planet's few advancing glaciers, Perito Moreno Glacier periodically dams the Brazo Rico of Lago Argentino, causing the water to rise. Eve...
Glasgow is a reflection of Scottish exuberance. Even the frequently seen rain clouds can't dampen Glaswegian enthusiasm, friendliness and civic pride. No other Scottish city has quite the same endearing grittiness, in spite of its sophistication. Drawing on a long tradition of support for the per...
Glastonbury, England, located 20 mi/30 km southwest of Bath, has a long tradition as a spiritual site. The tor—a conical hill jutting from the plain at the edge of town, with a ruined church on the top—is associated with the mythical Isle of Avalon and the Holy Grail. The site is especially appealin...
Overview
Set in the beautiful valley of two lakes, surrounded by the Wicklow Mountains and about 30 mi/48 km south of Dublin, Glendalough is one of Ireland's major monastic sites. It was founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century, and although it was destroyed by English soldiers in 1398, it remained a pilgri...
This town located 130 mi/210 km west of Denver lays claim to the world's largest hot-springs pool (more than two blocks long), where guests have enjoyed a soak in the 90 F/32 C water for more than a century. There's also a therapy pool with 104 F/40 C water. Down the block from the big pool are the ...
Overview Introduction A major center of vodun, Glidji is especially worth visiting during the second week of September, when it holds the Guin Festival—four days of celebration with parades and street dancing. The residents are devout followers of their religion, and many large public fetishes ad...
Situated at the craggy tip of Cape Ann on a hazardous coast (hidden coves made it a favorite of rumrunners and smugglers), Gloucester, Massachusetts, was settled as a fishing colony in 1623. Located 40 mi/65 km northeast of Boston, activities in the area still center on the sea, and local maritim...
The city of Gloucester, England, near the western edge of the Cotswolds, rates a short visit to see the spectacular cathedral, whose cloisters were transformed into the halls of Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films. The Victorian docks and the city's museum and art gallery are also interestin...
Glover's Reef Atoll, a protected national reserve, is made of some of Belize's most remote cayes. The islands are popular with serious snorkelers, divers and anglers. Isla Marisol, a pleasant dive lodge, is on Southwest Caye, and Glover's Atoll Resort has a beautiful setting but lacks electricity ...
Located 28 mi/45 km northeast of Poznan and inhabited since the eighth century, Gniezno was once Poland's capital. Gniezno's beautiful cathedral was the site of royal coronations for 300 years during the Middle Ages. Although the church was desecrated by the Nazis in World War II, it still retains...
Located 350 mi/560 km south of Mumbai, Goa is one of India's prime tourist destinations, thanks to its picturesque location on the Mandovi River, between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The state's Portuguese past is most apparent in its plazas, cathedrals and architecture, and a few Portu...
Covering the southeastern third of Mongolia, the Gobi Desert stretches about 3,000 mi/4,830 km along both sides of the Chinese border. It isn't a Saharan-type desert—although there are sand dunes, the Gobi is not a barren wasteland. It has herds of Bactrian camels (with two humps), horses and donkey...
Gokceada (the Windy Isle) is one of Turkey's two Aegean islands, far more rocky and mountainous than Bozcaada, and its attractions are not as immediately obvious. However, the upscale hotel developments in the hillside villages of Zeytinli and Tepekoy 150 mi/240 km south of Istanbul are clearly ai...
The upland region of Golan Heights is the far northeastern part of Israel 95 mi/150 km north of Jerusalem. It became part of the country after being taken from Syria in the Six-Day War in 1967. Like Upper Galilee, parts of this contested border area come under periodic shelling, and some places are ...
Australia's Gold Coast, a popular tourist playground stretching about 45 mi/72 km from Labrador and Southport south to Coolangatta in the southeastern corner of Queensland, has been a mecca for visitors from all corners of the world for many years. The strip of development strip continues on the New...
With the discovery of gold in the foothills east of Sacramento, California's destiny took a dramatic turn in the late 1840s. The California gold rush was on, and the area was invaded by the "forty-niners"—named for the year when most of them arrived. Today, the region has a number of museums and his...
Located 165 mi/265 km south of Johannesburg, the lovely but out-of-the-way Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa has antelope and lots of birds, including the rare bearded vulture and the bald ibis. But the main attraction is the scenery: beautiful, multicolored sandstone cliffs. Cav...
This group of islands off the southern Georgia coast was once the playground of some of the wealthiest families in the world. Today, it continues to draw well-heeled travelers, but those of more modest means can also enjoy the semitropical beach resorts and nature preserves. The city of Brunswick ...
At the turn of the century, one of the country's largest gold deposits was found in Goldfield, which is located almost exactly in between Carson City and Las Vegas on scenic U.S. Highway 95 (155 mi/250 km northwest of Las Vegas). It quickly became Nevada's largest city and a major railroad hub. Toda...
Overview Introduction If traveling nearby, stop for a few hours in this city 175 mi/282 km southeast of Minsk (pop. 527,000) to see the Rumiantsev Palace and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. There is a nice park in the city, with a tower in the center, which is worth ascending for its exce...
Located in Zimbabwe's lowveld region of baobab trees, scrubland and spectacular sandstone cliffs, Gonarezhou is a remote national park infrequently visited by international tourists. Zimbabwe's second-largest river, the Save, flows through it, and where it joins the Rundu River within the park's bou...
Overview Introduction This large island in the Gulf of Gonave is a destination only for adventurous snorkelers and scuba divers. It is isolated and difficult to reach, and there are no hotels. Beautiful coral reefs and mangroves surround the island. 35 mi/55 km northwest of Port-au-Prince.
Founded by Emperor Fasilidas in the 17th century in the shadow of the Simien Mountains 260 mi/420 km northwest of Addis Ababa, Gonder certainly merits a visit. Once the Ethiopian capital, the town has distinctive castles and cathedrals, incorporating medieval European and southern-Arabian influences...
The 50-mi-/80-km-long gorge of Gorges-du-Tarn, running 1,200-1,500 ft/360-450 m deep, is one of the most breathtaking natural sights in France. Start your visit near the town of Millau, about 85 mi/140 km northwest of Avignon. Allow several hours to see the gorge in a flat-bottomed boat by day or ...
Colombia's Gorgona and Malpelo islands are located on the Pacific Ocean, 216 mi/346 km west of Bogota and 38 mi/58 km west of the small landlocked coastal town of Guapi. Gorgona, Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Gorgona functioned as a high-security prison until 1...
An ancient historical site that was besieged by Pompey the Great in 65 BC, Gori is better known in modern times as the birthplace of Josef Stalin. It is located 55 mi/85 km west of Tbilisi. The town is dominated by the Goris-Tsikhe Fortress (the present structure was rebuilt in medieval times) and ...
At an elevation of 5,000 ft/1,525 m, this town offers relief from the heat and humidity below. Enjoy scenic drives through the cool mountains, then visit the incredible J. K. McCarthy Museum (one of the country's best). There's a nice crafts market near the Bird of Paradise Hotel—it's best on Saturd...
Once the pride of Mozambique's prewar national parks, Gorongosa National Park has undergone a hugely ambitious and successful rehabilitation program that is ongoing. For travelers looking for an off-the-beaten-track escape with diverse game, rich birdlife and a real sense of untamed Africa, Gorongos...
The 300-mi/485-km long Gota Canal crosses the country, linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea via rivers and lakes (including Lakes Vattern and Vanern). Originally built as a commerce route in 1832, today its primary use is pleasure cruising during the summer months. Steamers pass through more th...
The western seaport of Gothenburg, located 250 mi/400 km southwest of Stockholm, is Sweden's second-largest city. Originally a fishing village, and still an important fishing hub, Gothenburg is home to major industries such as Hasselblad cameras and Volvos. It also offers man-made and natural beauty...
Surrounded by beaches and white cliffs 100 mi/160 km south of Stockholm, Gotland is Sweden's largest island. The weather is fairly mild, and its size—110 mi/170 km long and 30 mi/50 km wide—makes it a good place for beachcombing, watersports and relaxation. It's where many Swedes vacation. Gotland'...
Overview Introduction Gouda is known not only for its cheese, but also for its pipes and candles. This lovely little town 25 mi/40 km southwest of Amsterdam has a large market square with a beautiful 15th-century town hall sitting in the center. Walk the narrow streets, especially in the area aro...
Situated at the edge of the Sahara, where desert nomads and sedentary populations meet, the town of Goulimime is worth a night's stay if you can arrange to be there on a Saturday. That's when the Tuareg People (also called Blue People because the dye in their clothes tints their skin) ride into town...
Overview Introduction If you didn't get to see any salt caravans in Timbuktu, stop for a day in Goundam, located 50 mi/80 km to the southwest of that city. The caravans pass through more frequently, though you'll find there isn't much to do in between. If you have already seen the salt caravans, ...
Called Charlotte Town by locals, Gouyave is in the parish of St. John's on the western coast of Grenada. This old French Creole village is the most popular place to watch the boat races that are part of the Fisherman's Birthday Celebration held every June. For an inside look at the spice industry...
The island of Gozo, reached by car-and-passenger ferry from Cirkewwa on Malta, is more pastoral than the island of Malta, and it offers wonderful views of rolling hills, a dramatic coastline and majestic churches springing up from villages. If a quiet, relaxing vacation is what you're after, we th...
Pretty, historic Graaff-Reinet, South Africa, located 360 mi/580 km northeast of Cape Town, is worth a half-day's visit. The architecture is quite attractive. Be sure to see the Reinet House and the Old Residency, both beautiful examples of Cape Dutch architecture. Also worth visiting is the Old Lib...
The blossoming colonial village of Gracias, Honduras, southeast of Copan and 100 mi/160 km northwest of Tegucigalpa, is the starting place for those wishing to hike Mount Celaque in Celaque National Park, which is 3 mi/5 km away. The park is often shrouded with clouds, but the rain forest has a wate...
Grafton is so perfect you'll think you've wandered onto a movie set, but you're really just 95 mi/150 km southeast of Burlington. Grafton is one of the most meticulously restored villages in Vermont, courtesy of the Windham Foundation, a preservation fund. Its centerpiece is the pleasant Old Taver...
About 225 mi/360 km from Mthatha lies Grahamstown, South Africa—also known as Festival City, City of Saints or Rhini. Home to Rhodes University and the annual National Arts Festival, Grahamstown is steeped in history. Even the main museum, the Albany Museum, dates back to 1855 and is the second-olde...
Overview Introduction The word chaco means "abundance of wildlife," and the Gran Chaco more than lives up to its name. Spotting conditions are ideal for nature lovers and anglers; comforts, however, are minimal if not nonexistent. Be forewarned that a trip to this region tends to have some rug...
Granada offers a lot more to see and do than you would normally expect from a provincial capital. The biggest attraction is no doubt the Alhambra, which consistently draws more visitors than any other sight in Spain. Because Muslim rule lasted the longest in Granada—roughly 250 years longer than in...
Founded on the shore of Lake Nicaragua in 1524 by Francisco Fernandez de Cordoba, Granada, Nicaragua, is the nation's oldest city, one of the oldest cities in the New World and foremost attraction for tourists from around the world. Granada is the cleaner, better renovated and grander of Nicaragua...
This town ,150 mi/240 km southwest of St. John's, was named for the Grand Banks, the famed fishing waters off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. Not surprisingly, Grand Bank is a fishing town and is considered by many to be the epitome of rural Newfoundland. The seafaring life is celebrated a...
Overview Introduction From 1843 to 1900, this town was the colonial capital. The town retains much of the architectural charm of that time. In the former Governor's Palace, you can see the Musee National du Costume, which exhibits traditional clothing and Korhogo cloth. Those wishing to buy texti...
No matter what you've heard about its legendary beauty, the first time you peer over the edge of the Grand Canyon, you'll probably be amazed. Many visitors sum up the view from the rim with one word: Wow. An immense landscape spreads below your feet, dropping cliff by cliff into a winding, ragged g...
The phenomenal Grand Canyon Skywalk is more than 240 mi/386 km from the South Rim visitor center, almost as far away as the canyon is long. It is reached via the entrance at Grand Canyon West. It is actually closer to Las Vegas, Nevada, which is only 120 mi/193 km farther west. The Skywalk is an a...
The gastronomic capital of St. Martin, Grand Case (pronounced grahnd kahz —rhymes with blahs) is the French side's second-largest town. Its main street is lined with more than 30 charming, small restaurants, many with gingerbread-trimmed patios or verandas overlooking the sea. Food is what draws...
When visitors first set eyes on Grand Cayman Island, they see a flat stretch of land that barely rises out of the water. But despite what its appearance may suggest, Grand Cayman is not lacking in awe-inspiring geographical features. To see them, visitors just have to look down. Just offshore, cor...
One of the largest concrete structures and greatest producers of electricity in the world, Grand Coulee Dam is an impressive sight. Late May-September, a nightly laser light show illuminates the massive spillway. Drive to Dry Falls and look over the cliff where a 3-mi-/5-km-wide waterfall once plu...
Overview Introduction This colorful and impressive sand sea covers most of central Algeria. The Grand Erg is divided into two major regions: the western (Chech and Iguidi) and the eastern. Clustered around the edges of the Erg are a number of small oases; we recommend visiting Taghit, Timimoun, t...
Grand Etang Forest Reserve, in Grenada's mountainous interior 6 mi/10 km northeast of St. George's, deserves an all-day trip from the capital. It has well-marked trails where you can see many of the island's 350 bird species as well as monkeys, opossums and the occasional armadillo. An easy 15-minut...
These impressive falls 140 miles/225 km northwest of Fredericton are a very popular destination and can be reached by taking the River Valley Scenic Drive west and north from Fredericton. (The falls are the most scenic part of the river drive, in our opinion.) The Grand Falls gush through a 1-mi-/...
These twin towns 165 mi/265 km northwest of St. John's grew large (in Newfoundland and Labrador terms) because of the paper mill built in 1905. The amalgamated town is located in the Exploits Valley, which offers outdoor adventures such as hunting, fishing and boating. Fish, in particular, have mu...
The town of Grand Forks, 75 mi/120 km north of Fargo, is centered around the University of North Dakota, and the academic community fosters a sophisticated culture. The North Dakota Museum of Art, located on campus, is known throughout the region for its contemporary art. Make a stop at the Myra M...
Founded by German immigrants in 1857, Grand Island, Nebraska, located 150 mi/240 km west of Omaha, became a prominent center when the Union Pacific Railroad was built through the area in the mid-1860s. The region's early history is the focus of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer. Indoor exhib...
Located near the Utah-Colorado border on the western edge of the state, 200 mi/320 km west of Denver, Grand Junction serves as a base for visits to several area attractions, especially Colorado National Monument. Within the monument's 20,450 acres/12,270 hectares, you'll find extraordinary red-sands...
Overview Introduction At the western entrance of the illustrious Rocky Mountain National Park sits the picturesque town of Grand Lake. Small and charming, this town is adjacent to Shadow Mountain, one of the most beautiful lakes in Colorado. The town feels like a step back in time with quaint inn...
The small town of Grand Marais, in far northeastern Minnesota, is a good jumping-off point for outdoor activities in the region. The Lutsen Mountains area is said to be the Midwest's largest ski complex, with runs for all levels of expertise. The Lutsen Mountains Resort was founded by the family of ...
Overview Introduction This crumbling coastal town, on the west coast of Benin, has one of the best beaches in the country (though it's by no means spectacular). Grand Popo was once a major port during the slave trade. Unfortunately, most of the historic buildings have been washed away. What remai...
Grand Rapids is the state's second-largest metropolitan area. Located 145 mi/230 km northwest of Detroit, the city (and the surrounding west Michigan region) bears the mark of the Dutch immigrants who settled the area. Heavily influenced by the Dutch Reformed Church, it's one of the more conservativ...
The huge, 1-million-acre/404,686-hectare (reduced from 1.7 million acres/687,965 hectares in 2017) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a remote area of colorful plateaus, canyons and cliffs. It lies southwest of Capitol Reef National Park, extending south almost to Lake Powell and west to...
The dramatic, rugged peaks of the Teton Range virtually erupt from the flat plains and Snake River valley, creating a landscape that at times appears to be an illusion. Photographers and artists attempt to capture the majesty and breathtaking views, but their results never fully convey the experienc...
Although Grand Turk Island, located at the eastern end of the 40-island Turks and Caicos chain, is considered the chief island since the capital city is located there, its influence is surpassed by that of Providenciales, which is the primary tourism destination. Grand Turk does have an upgraded i...
On the western edge of the archipelago, Grande Comore (also sometimes called Ngazidja) is a fun destination with good beaches, excellent scuba diving, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing and a steaming volcano. Moroni, the national capital and a pretty town, is a great place for walking—you can see it on ...
Though more built up and less beautiful than Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre has lots of nice beaches and good conditions for watersports. The hub of the island is Pointe-a-Pitre, the capital, which is a cultural center and thriving tourist attraction. Its stately colonial houses, historic buildings, mark...
At 5,964 ft/1,817 m, Grandfather Mountain (near Linville) is one of the highest points in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the section of the Appalachians running from northern North Carolina into southern Virginia. A trip to the top of this privately owned peak offers more than great views, however. A nat...
Another town that preserves a portion of Route 66, Grants lies near one of the largest deposits of uranium in the world, 75 mi/120 km west of Albuquerque. Its discovery in 1950 made uranium extraction the main business in Grants. The New Mexico Museum of Mining includes a replica of a uranium mine a...
The Rogue River that flows through Grants Pass, Oregon, is a center for fishing and white-water rafting. Fishing guides and outfitters are both available in town (contact the visitors bureau for a list). There are many hiking and biking trails and streamside camping. The area is located about 210 mi...
This small, historic town on the northwest bank of Lake Como boasts a beautiful lakeside promenade, but is a rather quiet place. Located 33 mi/53 km from Como, it was fortified in Roman times, destroyed in the 11th century, and rebuilt to become the capital town of the Tre Pievi Republic in the 1500...
Graz dates from 1128 and is the second-largest city in Austria. It's also one of the country's prettiest cities, capital of the state of Styria and only 90 mi/140 km southwest of Vienna. Graz was named for the small fortress set on a thickly wooded hill that looks like a dollop of green rock set i...
Positioned as a guardian for the inner waters of New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf, Great Barrier Island is 55 mi/90 km from downtown Auckland, a 30-minute flight or nearly five hours by ferry. Fullers Ferries operates a faster, passenger-only service in summer months, which brings the trip down to two hou...
Extending nearly 1,200 mi/2,000 km along Australia's northeast coast, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most magnificent coral reefs. The colorful outcroppings of coral and the abundance of other sea life, along with the clarity of the water, make the area a must-visit. The reef and the i...
Located near the little town of Baker in east-central Nevada, 296 mi/476 km northeast of Las Vegas, Great Basin National Park is one of the least-visited parks in the U.S., but that's not to say there's nothing to see. It offers 77,100 acres/31,201 hectares of impressive mountains, meadows, lakes, l...
The waterfalls that gave this city its name were an important signpost for Lewis and Clark as they passed along the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark encountered five waterfalls; four of those cataracts are in the near vicinity of Great Falls. One of them remains in its natural state, while two retain...
Running along the state's western border, the Great River Road follows the course of the mighty Mississippi River, passing many interesting attractions along the way. This is a chance to trace the paths of the stern-wheelers Mark Twain wrote about, reliving a time when much of this nation's commerce...
Most people associate Colorado with mountains more than sand dunes, but Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is home to the tallest dunes in North America, towering more than 750 ft/230 m above the valley floor. The main dune field covers approximately 19,200 acres/7,770 hectares of the 150,0...
Located in western North Carolina (near Cherokee) and shared with Tennessee, the Smoky Mountains get their name from the bluish haze that has always clung to them. (Sadly, the natural haze has been made thicker by man-made pollution—smog from far-off cities collects on the peaks.) The Appalachians, ...
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in eastern Tennessee (near Gatlinburg, 160 mi/260 km east of Nashville) and is shared with North Carolina. The Smoky Mountains get their name from the bluish haze that has always clung to them, and they're thought to be among the oldest mountains on Earth, h...
Great Stirrup Cay is Norwegian Cruise Line's private Bahamian island. The 250-acre/100-hectare island includes an entrance channel for tenders, a marina, private beachfront cabanas, a bandstand, a straw market and a children's play area. Guests on the private island can experience a stingray enco...
No matter how many pictures of it you've seen, the Great Wall of China is still impressive. It follows a ridge of barren hills through northern China, stretching as far as the eye can see—at least 3,750 mi/6,000 km. It's thought that, at one time, it was 6,000 mi/9,700 km long. "The Great Wall" is a...
Great Zimbabwe is, quite simply, the most extensive and best-preserved ruins anywhere in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The ancient African kingdom of Munhumatapa built the series of stone complexes. The 10,000 people who prospered there in the 13th-15th centuries had impressive skills: They bui...
Located in southeastern Europe, Greece is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world—for good reason. It is a country with great, ancient history, one that gave birth to the concepts of democracy and philosophy, the Olympic Games, and drama, namely tragedy and comedy. Visitors will g...
Greeley, 55 mi/90 km north of Denver, which was used as the model for James Michener's Centennial , was one of the nation's first planned cities. It was founded by Nathan Meeker, an employee of frontier booster Horace "Go West, Young Man" Greeley. Known as the City of Trees, Greeley has three mus...
The oldest city in the state, Green Bay was founded by missionaries in 1669. Throughout its history, the town's strategic position at the head of Green Bay made it a vital transportation and shipping center. For most people, though, it's the Packers, Green Bay's National Football League team, that...
Greenland is hard to get to and difficult to move about, so a trip to this North American island requires a good deal of money and effort. But if you're up for an adventure in a place that's unlike most others, the effort will be well worth it. In Greenland, you'll see steep, stony mountains crowne...
The bustling port town of Greenock is most notable for its proximity to Glasgow, though you can easily fill a day with such attractions as Oak Mall, the largest shopping area in Greenock, and the McLean Museum, where visitors can learn about shipbuilding. The Esplanade is the town's beautiful walkwa...
This pleasant city has an eclectic arts scene and a walkable downtown area with small shops, galleries, restaurants and breweries. Greensboro is home to the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, site of a Revolutionary War battle between Gen. Nathanael Greene of the Patriots and British Gen. C...
Greenville is located in South Carolina's Upcountry, 100 mi/165 km northwest of Columbia. It was a declining mill town that has reinvented itself as a thriving weekend tourist destination. Its wide, four-block Main Street retains its old-fashioned buildings and tree canopy. Storefronts boast non-c...
Nutmeg ice cream. Nutmeg cheesecake. Nutmeg sprinkled over rum punch. There's even a nutmeg rub that's supposed to cure the common cold. Grenadians are nothing if not resourceful with the spice. And that's understandable: They grow 20% of the world's nutmeg. But although you'll see (and smell) plen...
Wonderful scents waft through the town of Grenville on the east coast of Grenada. The second largest town on the island, it's set in an area known as "the bread basket of Grenada" for its cultivation of bananas, nutmeg and cocoa. Grenville serves as the main port on the east coast. The colorful week...
Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, lies on the banks of the Moselle River in the heart of the vineyard region, 19 mi/ 31 km northeast of Luxembourg City. Many of the local vineyards offer wine tastings. The annual wine market takes place on the Friday following Easter, and a wine festival and procession are ...
Grindelwald, Switzerland, is a good base for both winter and summer activities in the mountains, about 50 mi/80 km southwest of Lucerne. In winter, this town in the Jungfrau region has good skiing; during other seasons, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking and more adventurous pursuits, such...
Overview Introduction Though it doesn't feel old by most European standards, traditional architecture and a prewar atmosphere are the main draws of Grodno (pop. 368,800), about 115 mi/185 km north of Brest and 150 mi/240 km west of Minsk. Start by seeing a pair of castles—the hilltop Old Castle (...
North of Rodney Bay and about 8 mi/13 km north of Castries is the village of Gros Islet (pronounced gro-zee-LAY ), which hosts a Friday night Jump-Up (street party). Everyone is welcome to join in the revelry at this street dance, where soca, dub and, occasionally, zouk music blasts from huge speak...
Gros Morne National Park, on the west coast of Newfoundland 265 mi/425 km northwest of St. John's, has sensational fjords, mountains (and mountain climbing), bays, hiking trails and fishing. It's similar in appearance to the Highlands area of Scotland and parts of Norway, and is 10 times older than ...
Guadalajara is a city of contrasts. The second-largest city in Mexico has undergone significant modernization in the past couple of decades and has attracted numerous multinational businesses, particularly in the high-tech industry, leading to Guadalajara's distinction as Mexico's Silicon Valley. ...
About 90 mi/145 km long and 30 mi/50 km wide, this large island is the political and financial center of the country. The capital city, Honiara , is a compact seaport on the banks of Iron Bottom Sound (named for the large number of warships sunk in the area during World War II). The Solomon Island...
Often seen as a side trip from better-known Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, this park is a combination of high mountains, desert, shaded canyons and abandoned ranches. The starkly beautiful mountain range is part of an ancient fossil-rich formation known as Capitan Reef and includes Te...
A visit to Guadeloupe can be as varied as the flowers, cuisine and music found on the six idyllic inhabited isles and a handful of smaller ones that make up its archipelago. Reactions to Guadeloupe often fall into the love-it-or-hate-it category. For some visitors, the beauty of the geography, the w...
Guam's slogan, "Where America's Day Begins," has been a big draw for Japanese tourists (1 million annually), who get a chance to experience a little bit of Americana in the sun. As a result, Guam is considerably more developed and faster paced than its Micronesian counterparts. It has upscale shoppi...
Costa Rica's Guanacaste province is features five-star hotels, all-inclusive resorts and large condominium projects. Expansion of the Daniel Oduber International Airport in the capital city of Liberia has helped fuel this phenomenon. Some of Costa Rica's most beautiful and expansive beaches are loc...
Located about 220 mi/350 km northwest of Mexico City and founded in the mid-1500s, Guanajuato was one of the first strongholds of Spanish culture in Mexico. Today, it's a beautiful colonial-style state capital and university town. Revenue from silver mining financed its superb architecture, which ...
Guangzhou, China, provides a nice bridge to the outside world. It is located 80 mi/130 km northwest of Hong Kong and 1,200 mi/1,900 km south of Beijing. Guangzhou hosted the 16th Asian Games in November 2010 and used the major sporting event to reinvigorate its image. An entire minicity, the New P...
Located 20 mi/32 km west of Ponce, Guanica, Puerto Rico, was the site of the first U.S. troop landing in the Spanish-American War. It is now noted for the Guanica Forest Reserve. On UNESCO's list of Biosphere Reserves, the dry forest has 48 rare tree species and is an excellent place for bird-watc...
The highest (and coldest) city in Portugal, Guarda lies on the main road to Madrid, Spain, about 105 mi/170 km east of Coimbra. The town is in a beautiful setting amid a boulder-strewn landscape. Its most striking monument is its Gothic cathedral. Allow at least two hours just to stroll around, lo...
Guatemala, often trumpeted by travel agencies and guidebooks as "the country of eternal spring," is one of the most-often listed travel destinations in Central America: the stunning Maya ruins at Tikal, the well-preserved colonial city of Antigua, a vibrant indigenous culture, active volcanoes, high...
Officially founded in 1776, Guatemala City, Guatemala, is the capital of the country and the largest city in Central America. It has a crowded and noisy old section—where almost all of the colonial-era architectural and historic sites are found—that is almost impossible to drive through, but the oth...
Overview Introduction Costa Rica's Guayabo National Monument, situated 35 mi/55 km northeast of San Jose in Turrialba, contains the ruins of a lost civilization dating from the ninth century, including pools, roads and aqueducts. The town is believed to have been the hub of the area before it was...
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport on the country's Pacific coast. Previously considered an unattractive, smelly city and excluded from most tourist itineraries, Guayaquil has received an impressive face-lift from past municipal administrations. In addition to a series of public work...
The Mexican port town of Guaymas, on the east side of the Gulf of California and 950 mi/1,530 km northwest of Mexico City, is rapidly becoming a destination in itself. It started on its way to tourism fame as a place to catch the ferry to Santa Rosalia, Baja California. (Check times of ferry sailing...
Perched on a hillside in northern Umbria 105 mi/170 km southeast of Florence, charming Gubbio, Italy, has changed little since the Middle Ages. Its steep cobblestoned streets, portals, fountains and beautiful views of the countryside below are beguiling. Be sure to visit the Piazza della Signor...
Just a few hours off the coast of both England and France, the Channel Island of Guernsey offers a pleasant blend of English and French tradition. Popular sites on the island include the home of author Victor Hugo, Sausmarez Manor, Castle Coronet and Little Chapel. The west coast of the island has ...
Guerrero Negro, located halfway down Mexico's Baja Peninsula, is visited for mainly one reason—it's near Parque Natural de la Ballena Gris (Gray Whale National Park). January-March, gray whales breed and give birth to their calves near the shores of Laguna Ojo de Liebre (also known as Scammon's Lago...
If any Chinese city has wholeheartedly embraced tourism, it's Guilin, the home base for cruises on the picturesque Li River. Its spectacular scenery is just a short flight from Hong Kong and 240 mi/385 km northwest of Guangzhou, and it is easily accessible from many other Chinese cities. As a result...
Guimaraes, located 30 mi/50 km northeast of Porto, was the first capital of Portugal. It's a medieval town with a 10th-century castle—Portugal's first king was born there. The town has many ancient monuments, as well as the interesting Alberto Sampaio Museum, which displays many artifacts from medie...
Guinea is one of West Africa's better-kept secrets. Following its independence from France in 1958, it was isolated not only from European influence, but also from its African neighbors, and that was how the country's leaders wanted it. But in recent decades, Guinea has slowly begun to open up to ...
Like so many countries in Africa, tiny Guinea-Bissau is clinging to a fragile peace between factions that not long ago were at each other's throats. In the late 1990s, a civil war between the army and the government displaced hundreds of thousands of people and accomplished nothing. Even if those fa...
The capital of southwestern Guizhou province, Guiyang is starting to see more tourism traffic. The low-key, attractive city is the gateway to Guizhou (pronounced Gway-jo ) province. The city's communal heartbeat, Renmin Square, is dominated by one of China's few remaining city-center statues of Cha...
Gulangyu, a car-free harbor island off Xiamen, China, has been reborn as a resort destination, with hotels, museums, gardens and, facing you as you walk from the ferry, KFC and McDonalds. Gulangyu is known as "Piano Island" because of its role in saving classical music during the Cultural Revolutio...
Between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island, 30 mi/50 km southwest of Vancouver, lies the Gulf Islands, a cluster of pastoral islands, much like the San Juan Islands in neighboring Washington. The largest of these islands, Saltspring Island, is only 20 mi/30 km long and about 10 mi/16...
Overview Introduction At an altitude of 8,900 ft/2,700 m, this Kashmiri resort area in Gulmarg, India, 400 mi/645 km northeast of Delhi, has four ski lifts and a golf course. It also is a base for treks; if time doesn't permit a long hike, there's an easy half-day walk that circles the city and a...
On the west side of the Rockies 130 mi/210 km southwest of Denver, Gunnison, Colorado, shares the mining and ranching heritage of many Colorado towns. Today, Gunnison sits near the large Blue Mesa Reservoir, formed by a dam on the Gunnison River, and is a gateway to world-renowned mountain biking ...
Overview Introduction Located close to the monasteries at Voronet and Humor in the hills of Bucovina, this town is a worthwhile overnight stop if you want to tour monasteries during the day. Its accommodations vary from cozy bed-and-breakfasts to three-star hotels. The restaurants there are also ...
Gustavia, St. Barthelemy's capital, main city and chief port, is still small and walkable. It wraps around three sides of Gustavia Harbor; a free walking-tour guide is available at the Tourist Office on Quai du General de Gaulle. At the impressive Mairie de St. Barth (town hall) on the far side of...
Overview Introduction A tiny fishing town just a four-and-a-half hour ferry or short flight from Juneau, Gustavus is a quiet little place filled with art galleries, wildflowers, and sweeping views of snowcapped peaks and Icy Strait, on which it sits. It's also the gateway to Glacier Bay National ...
The first capital of the state, Guthrie sprouted in one day (22 April 1889) into a tent city of 15,000 residents during the land rush. Today this city 20 mi/32 km north of Oklahoma City has a 1,400-acre/570-hectare historic district that is said to be the largest collection of restored Victorian com...
Guyana is an amazing combination of the Caribbean and South America. A former British colony, it has the distinction of being the only country on the continent of South America with English as its official language. This explains why today it is culturally aligned with the British West Indies but al...
Located in the middle of the country, the town of Gweru is mostly used as a base for visiting nearby national parks and ruins. Although Great Zimbabwe has the most extensive ruins in the country, it is not the only place with ruins: There are more than 200 such sites, and a few are near Gweru. The D...
If your schedule permits stopping at only one city other than Seoul, that city should be Gyeongju, 165 mi/265 km southeast of Seoul. It was the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935) and has a high concentration of temples, statuary and burial mounds, as well as an excellent historical museum. ...
Overview Introduction Gyor is called the Town of Four Rivers: It sits at the confluence of the Raba, Rabca, Marcal and Mosoni-Danube, 65 mi/105 km northwest of Budapest. The 2,000-year-old city has a 12th-century cathedral and the remains of a castle (with cannons intact). It's fun just to walk d...
Overview Introduction Pastel-colored homes tumble against each other along the hillside, welcoming visitors to a quaint view of the unspoiled Greece of yesteryear. This seaside town—which is not actually an island, though it seems like one—allows visitors a relaxing day or two to explore narrow, ...
A list of travel tips and tricks for g.
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