Durango, located in north-central Mexico, is a destination rich in history, dramatic landscapes, and cultural traditions that date back centuries. Once a key outpost during Spanish colonization, Durango played an important role in the development of northern Mexico. The city of Victoria de Durango, the state capital, features cobblestone streets and more than 1,000 officially registered historical structures.
Ponte de Lima sits along the Lima River in northern Portugal and is often regarded as the country’s oldest town. Its identity centers on the medieval bridge that spans the river, parts of which date back to Roman times and still structure how the town is experienced today.
Texel is the largest of the Dutch Wadden Islands, located off the northern coast of the Netherlands and separated from the mainland by the Marsdiep Strait. Its landscape combines broad sandy beaches, coastal dunes, salt marshes, grasslands, polders, and small villages. Den Burg is the island’s main settlement, while De Koog is the principal seaside resort.
Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand near the borders with Laos and Myanmar, is a city where history, art, and tranquil landscapes converge. Founded in the 13th century as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom, it retains a strong sense of heritage while also serving as a hub for contemporary Thai creativity.
Lead’s Main Street reflects its long history with places that invite people to explore local life beyond mining. The Black Hills Mining Museum offers displays of mining tools, machinery and a simulated underground mine experience that brings to life how miners worked the Black Hills over generations. Along the same street, galleries, cafés and historic buildings make for pleasant stops between deeper dives into the past.
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In Chile's arid Norte Grande, only one river in 700 miles of coastline makes it to the sea. Many towns have never experienced rainfall and depend on "Fogcatchers" to collect the morning dew for drinking water. This is the region of Chile's vast, water-poor but mineral-rich Atacama Desert, where massive geological formations from the beginning of time dominate a starkly beautiful landscape. In Antofagasta's intriguing La Portada market-place, barter with descendants of the Incas for finely woven alpaca serapes, jewelry in the Inca style and hand-carved nose flutes.
Other Popular Destinations in Chile
Santiago
Flanked by the Chilean Coast Range and the snowy Andes, Chile's largest metropolis offers a dazzling array of sights and attractions for visitors to pursue. Mirrored skyscrapers, 16th-century churches, hip cafes, dance clubs... and did we mention the delicious Chilean cuisine?
Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales sits at the head of the Ultima Esperanza Sound in southern Chile, serving as the gateway to Patagonia’s dramatic landscapes.