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Feb 12, 2021The cycle begins anew

Today marks the start of festivities celebrating the Lunar New Year (aka Chinese New Year), which continues through February 26. Because the holiday goes by the lunar calendar, the date of the Lunar New Year on our solar/Gregorian calendar changes each year. The Lunar New Year also comes with a turn of the zodiac, which is divided into 12 parts, with each part represented by a different animal. The zodiac system assigns a single animal and its attributes to represent each year, and 2021 is the Year of the Ox. The others are Rat, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.Desktop Version

Apr 12, 2018Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia

No need to call authorities if you see a group of climbers marching up the arch of Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia. Interest in scaling the arch was so strong, there’s a tourism company that takes groups up the southern stretch of the arch. Before the climb was sanctioned by the government, a few daredevils scaled parts of the bridge illegally. But now, it would be tough to do without running into a group of brave tourists on a walk up the arch.Desktop Version

May 27, 2018Travel Sunday: San Francisco

Since it opened on this day in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge has become perhaps the defining symbol of San Francisco. It’s a city famous for reinvention, one that rebuilt itself after the devastating earthquake and fires of 1906, later becoming ground zero for hippie culture in the 1960s, before morphing again into the urban hub of Silicon Valley. San Francisco is often called one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, and with views like this, it’s easy to see why.Desktop Version

Dec 5, 2021Salzburg, Austria

If you know of Salzburg, Austria, it"s probably because of Mozart and not monsters. But if your holiday wish is to be chased by an unseemly seasonal demon, the narrow, medieval streets of this city are the place to be tonight. Or this *would* have been the place to be if a different ghoul hadn"t raised its unwelcome, spiky head—the coronavirus continues to unleash its real-world horrors, canceling tonight"s scheduled Krampus runs, just as it did last year. Allow us to explain.Desktop Version

Jan 1, 2021Take the plunge into 2021

Happy New Year! Last year was pretty bracing and most of us are more than ready to start a new one. This polar bear seems to be shaking off 2020 with his very own—and very authentic—polar bear plunge in the waters off the Svalbard archipelago, way up in the Arctic Ocean.Desktop Version

Jan 22, 2019Is this Minecraft headquarters?

This pixelated-looking building is home to a boutique winery in the Rioja region of northern Spain. Inside, the Bodegas Ysios produces red wine from Tempranillo grapes grown in the area. The building itself was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to echo the outline of wine barrels lined up in a row. Out here in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria, it creates a memorable contrast with the rustic environment.Desktop Version

Jan 13, 2022Tasiilaq, Greenland

It"s said that Erik the Red gave Greenland its deceptively pleasant name to draw unwitting settlers to the snowy subcontinent. The Viking leader wasn"t totally fibbing, though: Greenland can turn pretty darn green when the aurora borealis gives the glaciers a glow-up.Desktop Version

Dec 5, 2020A cozy winter village

When snow blankets the steep slopes of the Pyrenees—the mountain range that forms a natural border between Spain and France—the cozy Spanish village of Benasque offers a cheerful refuge on a winter"s eve. Beautifully preserved Romanesque and Renaissance manors and churches line the narrow cobblestone streets, and it"s easy to feel as though you"ve stepped back in time. Aside from these cultural charms, most visitors come to Benasque for outdoor adventure. Surrounded by the highest peaks of the Pyrenees, the Benasque Valley receives heavy snowfall and is a popular skiing destination. Summer attracts even more visitors to the area, when hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, and river rafting are big draws.Desktop Version

Apr 5, 2020The frog prince?

Perched among the petals of a purple water lily, we think this petite tree frog makes a fine mascot for National Frog Month. The annual event celebrates frogs around the world, all 4,000+ species. Among the various kinds, the little green tree frog is commonly found in the backyards and water features of the southeastern United States. It was named the official state amphibian of both Louisiana and Georgia. Not bad for a little tree frog who likes flowers.Desktop Version

Dec 16, 2018Holidays in the Venetian Lagoon

About a mile north of Venice, in the Venetian Lagoon, is a collection of seven small islands that lie so closely together they’re generally known as a single island called ‘Murano.’ Visitors cross the narrow canals of Murano via pedestrian bridges. And during the holidays, those canals are decorated with lights, making the whole scene even more romantic.Desktop Version

Nov 5, 2018Ludwig’s palace

Get to southwestern Bavaria, near Germany’s border with Austria, to see this magnificent castle. It was built not as a stronghold against invaders, but as a fancy getaway for Ludwig II, the Bavarian king who commissioned the construction in 1869. Ludwig sunk most of his personal fortune into Neuschwanstein Castle and a couple of other estates, and even borrowed heavily to pay for the castle. Part of his inspiration for Neuschwanstein was the composer Richard Wagner, whose operas appealed to Ludwig’s romantic sensibilities. After Ludwig’s death, the castle was opened to the public for tours, and it continues to be a popular attraction today.Desktop Version

Jan 16, 2020In the valley of the doll

Today we"re featuring a picture-postcard view of Val Gardena, a valley nestled in the Dolomites in the South Tyrol region of Italy. This time of year, the remote area may be a bit busier than usual as skiers are drawn to its famous slopes. In summer, it"s known for other outdoor activities, such as rock climbing and hiking. Since the 17th century, the villagers have been famed for their wood carving. Artisans create everything from simple, utilitarian items, like bowls, to finely detailed figurines. One of the woodcarvers" biggest hits? A wooden peg doll that was popular across Europe and the US during the 19th century.Desktop Version

Apr 25, 2019Here comes summer

It’s the first day of summer in Iceland. Known as ‘sumardagurinn fyrsti,’ this national holiday has been celebrated on the first Thursday after April 18 for centuries. The first settlers on Iceland used the Old Norse calendar, which divided the year into just two seasons. So, summer starts earlier and lasts longer in Iceland than in other countries. But then, so does winter. Today’s a cold start to summer, with temperatures in late April rarely getting above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but conditions are good for the ice cave we’re featuring today, in Vatnajökull National Park. The Vatnajökull glacier is the largest ice cap in Europe by volume, and rests atop multiple active volcanoes. Gleðilegt sumar, Icelanders!Desktop Version

Dec 23, 2018Make your list and check it twice

Last-minute holiday shopping doesn’t look so stressful here at Ravennaschlucht Christmas market in the Black Forest region of southwest Germany. The tradition of attending a local Christmas market, or Christkindlmarkt, dates back to the Germany of the Middle Ages, and remains a popular holiday custom. At these outdoor gatherings visitors stock up on baked goods and crafts, enjoy entertainment, and sip mulled wine. Prost!Desktop Version

Apr 6, 2020Castle on a hill

In honor of Castle Day in Japan, we"re featuring Himeji Castle—one of the most pristine examples of traditional Japanese castle architecture, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Castle Day is on April 6 (or 4/6) because the Japanese character for castle (城) is read as "shiro," and the Japanese pronunciation of "four" is "shi" and "six" is "ro."Desktop Version

May 11, 2021 The Crown of the Continent

With one million acres of rugged, northwestern Montana wilderness to explore, a trip to Glacier National Park could fill up an entire summer and more. But let"s just take one day and virtually visit Grinnell Lake. A 7-mile loop trail, a relatively easy one in this mountain wilderness, takes you to the shores of the lake turned emerald green by glacial silt. Grinnell Lake—as well as Mount Grinnell and Grinnell Glacier—is named for the naturalist George Bird Grinnell. For two decades, he lobbied for federal protection of these lands, and on May 11, 1910, the "Crown of the Continent," as Grinnell dubbed the area, became the nation"s 10th national park.Desktop Version

Apr 10, 2018It’s Siblings Day!

These two young elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park may not be siblings, but young African elephants from the same herd are raised as if they are all related. Adult elephants pitch in to raise the little ones, even if they’re not the parents. Keep this supportive family-like structure in mind today, as it’s Siblings Day. Even if you don’t have any siblings in your life, there’s probably somebody you think of as being close enough to be a sibling. So, let them know you’re thinking of them today.Desktop Version

Jul 8, 2021A storied trail marks a century

This is but a tiny portion of what"s often called the longest hiking-only trail in the world. Today we"re in Stokes State Forest along the top edge of New Jersey, and that 2-by-6-inch white stripe tells us that we"re on the famous Appalachian Trail (the "AT" to those in the know). And what a day to be here, for July 8, 2021, is the trail"s 100th birthday.Desktop Version

Jul 7, 2021Back on the rise

This beautiful lake in northwestern Iran has had a rough couple of decades. Until around 1995, Lake Urmia was one of the 10 largest saltwater lakes on Earth, and the center of a thriving resort scene. Then drought, rising temperatures, water overuse, and the building of a causeway across the lake reduced it to less than 10% of its size by the 2010s.Desktop Version

May 6, 2018A wetland in Västmanland, Sweden

The northern and northwestern parts of the Swedish province called Västmanland is mountainous. But head south and the elevation drops to open plains and wetlands, like Knuthöjdsmosse, seen here. There’s no need to pack your hip waders, though--you can get a big dose of the outdoors at nearby Färnebofjärden National Park, where 25,000 protected acres provide a massive dose of rugged Swedish wilderness.Desktop Version

Jan 4, 2019Observing World Braille Day in Bavaria

This is not just a model; it’s also a tactile map of Landshut, Germany, and it’s meant to be explored with your fingertips. By touch alone, travelers with visual impairments can orient themselves among the real city’s streets and buildings. The miniature representation of this Bavarian town includes local landmarks like towering St. Martin’s Church, which is the tallest church in Bavaria and the second tallest brick structure in the world. The map is also embossed with the raised dots used in the Braille writing system, employed here to identify important parts of town. We’re showing this tactile visual aid today in honor of World Braille Day, an event observed each year on the birthday of Louis Braille, who created Braille in 1824.Desktop Version

Mar 18, 2018Christmas Tree Point Road and Twin Peaks, San Francisco

Panoramic views await at the dual peaks of Noe and Eureka, which rise nearly 1,000 feet above San Francisco. Known as Twin Peaks, this landmark provides habitat for a special species--the Mission blue butterfly. Only a handful of places in the world support these endangered little blues, and all are here in the Bay Area. Most of their grassland habitat has been destroyed.Desktop Version

Dec 18, 2020A towering view of the Pale Mountains

Behold the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, some of the most iconic peaks of the Dolomites range in the Italian Alps. The Dolomites, aka the "Pale Mountains," are named for the light-colored stone (dolomite) of the jagged range. This is the view from the highest point of a trail that encircles these three dramatic peaks. Usually mobbed with tourists in the summertime, autumn and spring offer a chance for a more tranquil amble along the 6-mile trail. The hike manages to reveal one stunning view after another with each turn of the route. Along the way, the hiker will pass three "rifugios," traditional Alpine shelters that offer drinks and meals, and even beds to stay the night.Desktop Version

Feb 6, 2019Watch your step

For Waitangi Day, we’re on New Zealand’s South Island, where a limestone formation known as the Pancake Rocks buffers the land and sea. Waitangi Day is New Zealand’s national day, established to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840. The document was signed by representatives of the British Crown and some 500 Māori chiefs to establish British law on the islands. The treaty also created the framework for political relations between New Zealand’s government and the indigenous Māori people. It’s considered New Zealand’s founding document and a cornerstone in the country’s history.Desktop Version

Dec 6, 2020A hidden jewel in Croatia

Today we"re walking out into the winter wonderland of Plitvice Lakes National Park, the oldest and largest national park in Croatia. More than a million tourists per year flock to this central mountainous region, renowned for its cascading waterfalls and 16 turquoise-colored lakes. These wooden pathways meander for miles around and above the lakes, beside waterfalls and over streams and rivers, which disappear into the moss-covered earth only to burst through again somewhere downstream. In fact, the lakes are all interconnected by underground flows and are separated from each other by natural dams of travertine.Desktop Version

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