Rovaniemi, located just a few kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, is widely recognized as the official hometown of Santa Claus. From late August through early April, the Northern Lights are visible on clear nights, and several local guides offer nighttime tours to remote locations for optimal viewing. During summer, the sun doesn't set for weeks, giving travelers the rare chance to hike or kayak under a sky that stays bright at midnight.
Looe is a small seaside town on the south coast of Cornwall, England, divided by the River Looe into East and West Looe and connected by a graceful stone bridge. With origins as a medieval port, the town has long been shaped by fishing and seafaring, traditions that still define its identity today.
Oxford is best known for its world-famous university, but the city offers much more than historic college halls and ivory towers. Its skyline, shaped by spires and domes, hints at centuries of intellectual life. The University of Oxford dates back to at least the 12th century and includes iconic buildings like the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and the Radcliffe Camera, a circular reading room that looks more like a cathedral than a place for quiet study.
Hot Springs, Arkansas has been drawing visitors for centuries, and it all starts with the water. The city sits atop a natural thermal spring system that produces nearly a million gallons of 143-degree water each day. These springs gave rise to Bathhouse Row, a stretch of eight historic bathhouses within Hot Springs National Park. Some, like the Fordyce Bathhouse, now serve as museums, while others still offer traditional thermal soaks.
A series of gates surrounds the two centers of ancient, medieval Fez (sometimes spelled Fes). The principal axes link the center to the gates and a street surrounds the heart of the old city. The Kairouan quarter, which is longer, is crossed by an artery. Narrow, tortuous pedestrian streets, covered passages, stairs and numerous dead-ends make up the dense layout with few urban squares. One can still see the religious and military monument reflecting the heyday of the Moorish city, and the intellectual enlightenment of the Islamic city. The twin cities have not lost their individual characters.