Carcassonne is a fortified city in southern France, rising above the Aude River with walls and towers that feel lifted from another century. Its origins stretch back to Roman times, but the city is best known for its medieval citadel, rebuilt and expanded during the Middle Ages when Carcassonne became a strategic stronghold on key trade and military routes.
Madagascar, the world’s fourth-largest island, lies off the southeastern coast of Africa and is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and unique landscapes. Its rainforests, spiny deserts, and highland plateaus provide habitats for species found nowhere else on Earth.
Tirana, the lively capital of Albania, is a city that blends historical charm with modern vibrancy. At the heart of its transformation is Skanderbeg Square, a bustling hub named after the national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg.
Nelson sits along the West Arm of Kootenay Lake in southeastern British Columbia, embraced by the rugged peaks of the Selkirk Mountains and threaded with over 350 heritage buildings that tell the story of its silver-rush beginnings. A short trip outside town leads to spots like the Salmo–Troup Rail Trail, a wide, gentle path that follows an old rail line for kilometers through forest and alongside rivers.
Colima is the capital of the Mexican state of Colima, about 50 miles east of Manzanillo. It is a popular side trip for vacationers who choose to visit this part of Mexico. The landscape of Colima is dominated by the Nevado de Colima, a snow-capped volcano that is still active and last erupted in 1941. Sugar refining, cigar and shoe production, and agriculture trade are the mainstays of Colima's economy.
Visitors to the state of Colima will experience mountains, volcanoes, rivers and alluring beaches. Jalisco sits to the north, and to the south lies Michoacán. It boasts an enviable average temperature of 77 °F.