10 Recommended Travel Destinations

Guilin, China.  Many films about China highlight a haunting and mystical beauty that can be hard to find in China’s rapidly industrializing landscape, but the small city of Guilin still hosts such beauty. The city has been important for many Chinese dynasties for a thousand years.  Guilin boasts misty peaks rising out of tranquil lakes while pagodas dominate the city. For more information about Guilin click here.

 

Moscow Metro.  The second largest metro in the world is located deep under Moscow. This system was designed to protect the people against a possible nuclear bomb threat during the Cold War but no expense was spared during the construction, and the stations are seen as some of the most perfect examples of Soviet realism ever built. There is also said to be second metro system at twice the depth to ferry government officials between the different military sites throughout the city. For more information on the metro and its amazing architecture click here.

 

Bazaars of Istanbul.  One of the world's most amazing experiences is to get thoroughly lost in the bazaars or markets of the ancient city of Istanbul. The city has always been the meeting place of East and West and this feeling still exists today. You’ll find the market is full of gold, jewelry and spices as well as the unmistakable smell of hundreds of donor kebab shops -- the best in the world, and if you go to the right one, only $0.50USD each. Try to remember a few key places as you explore the bazaar or you will soon find yourself lost. For more information on the grand bazaar click here.  (Top image: The inside of the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Photo by Chris Paduan.)

Bora Bora, Tahiti.  The small island of Bora Bora is part of the French protectorate of French Polynesia and is known for its stunningly clear waters and unique overwater accommodation. The huts on the island are built on platforms over sheltered lagoons and Pacific coves and vary from basic and inexpensive to downright opulent. Activities on the island are naturally marine-based, but hikes and other shore-based activities offer diversity. For more information on the island and how to get there click here.

 

The Lost Fleet of Chuuk, Micronesia.  The tropical waters of the small island of Chuuk in Micronesia enshrine the largest assembly of shipwrecks in the world. Devastation caused by a US raid on the Japanese fleet during the Second World War has left behind one of the most amazing and unique diving reefs and underwater landscapes in the world, with crystal clear waters and extraordinarily diverse sea life thriving among countless hulks of rusting military hardware. For more information on the lost fleet and the diving possible in the area click here.

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan India.  In the middle of the Thar Desert is the “Golden City” of Jaisalmer. The city is known for its huge fort and the stunning Jain temples all built from the same yellow-brown stone that gives the city its distinctive name and beauty. As the sun sets on the city, the stone gives off a warm red glow, endowing the place with a personality all its own. For more information on traveling and staying in the city click here.