Washington is a small town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, set among wooded hills, lakes, and rural valleys in the northwestern part of the state. Its landscape includes farmland, stone walls, forest roads, and several reservoirs and ponds, with the Shepaug River flowing through the surrounding countryside.
Atauro Island is a mountainous island north of Dili in Timor-Leste, separated from the mainland by the Ombai Strait. Its landscape includes dry hills, forested slopes, grassy areas, rocky cliffs, and small coastal villages. The island is surrounded by exceptionally diverse coral reefs and clear tropical waters, making its marine environment one of its defining features.
The British have long been associated with the Dordogne Valley. Fertile and green, this is where the 100 Year's War was fought. Many of the castles and "Bastides" were built by the British. The French say it is the land with "a little bit of everything", from a gentle river to lush pastures to wonderful wineries.
Abu Simbel, in southern Egypt near the border with Sudan, is one of the most awe-inspiring archaeological sites of the ancient world. Built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BCE, the twin temples were carved directly into the sandstone cliffs overlooking the Nile. The Great Temple, with its four colossal statues of Ramses II seated at the entrance, was designed not only to honor the pharaoh but also to project his power to neighboring Nubia.
Cayos Cochinos is a small archipelago in the Caribbean Sea off the northern coast of Honduras, located northwest of La Ceiba. The protected area consists of two larger forested islands, Cayo Menor and Cayo Grande, surrounded by numerous smaller coral cays. Clear Caribbean waters, sandy beaches, tropical vegetation, and offshore reefs define the landscape. Cayos Cochinos forms part of the Mesoamerican Reef system and is protected as a marine natural monument and biological reserve.
Altun Ha, where archaeologists found a nine-pound jade carving among these ruins, the largest ever uncovered in a Mayan civilation.
Other Popular Destinations in Belize
San Ignacio
San Ignacio sits in western Belize’s Cayo District on the banks of the Macal and Mopan Rivers, where the town and its sister settlement of Santa Elena are linked by Belize’s lone suspension bridge. Its location also makes San Ignacio a gateway to both inland Belize and the nearby Guatemalan border, making it easy for curious travelers to explore beyond town limits.
Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker lies off the coast of Belize, a small island that was once a quiet fishing village and today still feels wonderfully uncrowded compared to many Caribbean destinations. Its name likely comes from an English twist on “Hicaco,” the old Spanish name meaning coco plum, a nod to the island’s early days and bilingual roots.