Washington State offers travelers a dynamic mix of landscapes, cultures, and experiences shaped by volcanoes, forests, coastline, and innovation. Seattle, the state’s largest city, is home to the iconic Space Needle, buzzing Pike Place Market, and holds deep roots in music history. Visitors can stand on the original floor of the first Starbucks, explore interactive exhibits at the Museum of Pop Culture, or catch a ferry from the city’s waterfront for a scenic ride across Puget Sound.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, in western Uganda, is one of East Africa’s most diverse and scenic protected areas. Stretching from the Rwenzori Mountains to the shores of Lake Edward, the park encompasses savannah, wetlands, and dense forests, making it a sanctuary for an incredible array of wildlife.

Takayama, located in Japan’s mountainous Gifu Prefecture, is a city where traditional culture and natural beauty are remarkably well preserved.

Hwange National Park, located in western Zimbabwe, is the country’s largest protected area and one of Africa’s premier wildlife reserves. Covering more than 14,600 square kilometers, it is renowned for its extraordinary diversity of animals and habitats.

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of Africa’s most vibrant and unpredictable cities. Sprawling along the banks of the Congo River, it’s the third-largest city on the continent and pulses with music, art, and personality at every turn. Across the river lies Brazzaville, making Kinshasa part of the only pair of national capitals facing each other across a single waterway.