- Japan’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: The ethereal radiance and seemingly unending heights of this bamboo grove on the outskirts of Kyoto are experiences that no traveler should miss. The encounter goes even farther than that: The noises heard here—wood cracking, leaves rustling—were listed as one of the top 100 Japanese Soundscapes by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment in 1996.
- Chile’s Atacama Desert: Have you ever had aspirations to travel to the moon? It takes far less time to fly to Valle de la Luna in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Rugged peaks, arid riverbeds, and a landscape strikingly reminiscent of our favorite celestial body have been left behind by years of erosion.
- Madagascar’s Avenue of the Baobabs: 250 miles of sea separate Madagascar from mainland Africa, making it the epitome of adventure. Giant moths, bug-eyed lemurs, and locations like the bizarre Avenue of the Baobabs, where the centuries-old trees soar to heights of almost 100 feet, are just a few of the island nation’s mysteries.
- Portugal’s Azores: Just one picture of this Portuguese archipelago, located around 900 miles off the coast of Lisbon, can evoke wanderlust. The Azores are a dream come true because of their lush valleys, sheer rock faces, rows of blue hydrangeas, and numerous waterfalls. Just be careful to go before everyone you know gets there before you do.
- Canada’s Banff National Park Getty Canada’s Banff National Park With its consistently diverse array of wildlife and breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in all of Canada. The park is renowned for its profusion of stunning lakes, each one more immaculate than the previous, such as Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and glacial Lake Minnewanka.
