Imagine standing in complete stillness as thousands of tiny lights blink in perfect harmony around you. Every spring in Congaree National Park, this bioluminescent ballet plays out under the forest canopy. This is nature’s very own light show, and it lasts only two magical weeks. Time your visit right, and you’ll be part of a glowing experience few ever witness.
Situated at the foot of Mont Collon, the small village of Arolla is a popular starting point for summer mountain hikes as well as a common stop on the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route expeditions. In the winter, it's a small ski resort with five lifts and guaranteed snow thanks to the elevation.
Ambon is the capital of the archipelago of Maluku. The city was founded around the late 1500's due largely to the famed Spice Trade route. Ambon is diverse with the rich culture of many different nationalities.
Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, is a place where tropical forest and coastline meet in striking harmony. Once a pirate hideout and later the site of a penal colony, it has evolved into one of Brazil’s most remarkable island destinations. With no cars allowed and no large resorts, the island moves at a different pace, where footpaths and boats are the main ways to get around.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches across the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, protecting a broad section of the southern Appalachian Mountains. The park is known for forested ridges, mist-covered peaks, clear streams, and an exceptional variety of plant and animal life. Its landscape changes with elevation, from rich hardwood forests in the valleys to spruce-fir forests near the highest summits.
Photo Credit: Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Brad Switzer on Unsplash
ANN ARBOR -- Long regarded as one of the freest-thinking college towns in the U.S., Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Domino's Pizza. While you're in Ann Arbor, be certain to see the city's many fascinating historic buildings (including the Gothic-style Law Quadrangle at the university and the restored and refurnished Greek Revival Kempf House); the Kelsey Museum of Ancient and Medieval Archaeology; and Kerrytown (a diversity of specialty shops and eateries in restored 19th-century buildings close to the Farmers Market). We recommend at least a day in Ann Arbor. Amid the noteworthy events on Ann Arbor's calendar are the Summer Festival of the Performing Arts (mime, dance, theater, music, lectures, films and exhibits, June-July) and the Ann Arbor Art Fair (a juried show with more than 1,000 exhibitors, July).
Other Popular Destinations in Michigan
Mackinac Island
An island in the Strait of Mackinac where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet at the northern tip of the State of Michigan.
Detroit
Located in southeast Michigan state between Lake Erie and Lake Huron, this is the "Motor City" - it is the center of the American Car industry.