Olympic National Park occupies Washington State’s remote northwest corner, shaped by isolation and ecological range rather than a single defining feature.

Samarkand is one of Central Asia’s most storied cities, famed for its role as a crossroads of culture, science, and trade along the Silk Road. The heart of the city is the Registan, a grand square framed by three ornate madrasas decorated with vivid mosaics, intricate tilework, and soaring arches.

Virginia is a state where past and present share the same ground. In places like Colonial Williamsburg, costumed interpreters walk the same streets once frequented by American revolutionaries, while nearby Jamestown and Yorktown complete what's known as the Historic Triangle. Outside its historic corridors, Virginia surprises visitors with its changing landscapes, from the rolling horse farms of Middleburg to the rugged terrain of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Akita sits in the northern part of Japan’s Tōhoku region and offers travelers experiences rooted in long-held traditions, lively festivals, and scenic valleys. Its capital city blends seasonal appeal with cultural offerings, from Senshu Park, once the site of Kubota Castle, where cherry blossoms and lotuses draw locals and visitors alike, to the Akita Museum of Art, a striking building designed by famed architect Tadao Ando that displays works including pieces by Tsuguharu Foujita.

Situated on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula between a mountain range and the sea is the small town of Grundarfjordur, Iceland. Though certainly now the most well-known town on the peninsula, its nearby mountain Kirkjufell ("church mountain" in Icelandic) is perhaps Iceland's most famous.