Castle Hill ♦
Location: Massachusetts, Ipswich
Historic estate with extensive grounds and various outbuildings – perfect for exploring, particularly if you’re here in the off season and have the place to yourself
Gibbet Hill
Location: Massachusetts, Groton
Picturesque ruins of small castle built in 1906
Mount Washington
Location: New Hampshire, White Mountains
Classic hike to the summit of Mt. Washington, famous for its unpredictable and remarkably bad weather
Covered Bridges of Bath
Location: New Hampshire, Bath
Two very nice covered bridges in close proximity; also home to what’s reputed to be America’s oldest General Store
Frankenstein Trestle ♦
Location: New Hampshire, Bartlett area, Crawford Notch State Park
Hike to the scenic Frankenstein Trestle, which bridges a sheer cliff face along the Conway Scenic Railroad; particularly great during the autumn with fall colors
Pindaya
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Large cave filled with thousands of Buddha statues
Santa Barbara
Location: California, Southern Pacific Coast, North of Los Angeles
Great coastal city with various sites of historic interest, including the courthouse built in 1929, a mission founded in 1786, a Chumash painted cave, and a stagecoach-era tavern that’s still in operation
San Luis Obispo
Location: California, Southern Pacific Coast, South of Big Sur
Nice town with a picturesque spot for some mediocre climbing, a mission founded in 1772, and a large coastal sand dune system
Cambria
Location: California, Southern Pacific Coast, South of Big Sur
Adorable town for a weekend getaway with several nearby attractions, including the excellent Hearst Castle
Moanalua Valley to Haiku Stairs ♦
Location: Hawaii, Oahu, Southeast
Excellent ridge hike with Jurassic Park-esque views leading to the top of the famous Haiku Stairs (where they can be legally viewed without trespassing) and World War II era top secret military radio station
Rolous Temple Complex
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Lesser visited temple complex a short distance away from the main Angkor Wat complex
Angkor Thom
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Walls, gates, towers, and causeways of the last capital of the Khmer empire
Angkor Wat
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Iconic, well-preserved massive temple structure with three levels, five towers, covered galleries, a moat, and sandstone relief carvings
Prasat Bayon
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Ornate temple in the Khmer baroque style with a multitude of carved stone faces
Prasat Krachap
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Large complex lying mainly in ruins, notable for the inscriptions covering the doorways and pillars of the western gate
Prasat Krahom
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Interesting red temple in the Prasat Thom complex, famous for its unusual lion statues
Prasat Pram ♦
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Site of ruined temple buildings with extremely picturesque strangler fig on-growth
Prasat Thom
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Koh Ker’s main temple complex, featuring Prasat Prang, a unique seven-tiered step pyramid
Preah Khan ♦
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Excellent ruined temple left in a stabilized unrestored condition, complete with excellent vegetative growth on and around the ruins
Ta Som
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Small temple left in a state of picturesque stabilized neglect
Ta Prohm
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Siem Reap Area
Extremely picturesque temple in a state of stabilized neglect, famous for being featured in Tomb Raider
Beng Mealea ♦
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Kulen National Park region
One of the Khmer Empire’s larger complexes, this site has a great Indiana Jones feel to it and sees few tourists
Cu Chi Tunnels ♦
Location: Vietnam, Southern
War memorial park at the home base of the Viet Cong Tet Offensive, where you can tour the tunnels and buildings used by the fighters
DMZ
Location: Vietnam, Central
Various military sites can be visited in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) including the Hien Lung Bridge and Vinh Moc Tunnels
Ho Chi Minh City
Location: Vietnam, Southern
Vietnam’s capital city and home to two war memorial museums (from the war with the US), historic French colonial architecture, and lots of phở
Hue
Location: Vietnam, Central
Early 20th century capital of Vietnam and seat of the Nguyen Dynasty; highlights include the citadel, Imperial City, and Thien Mu Pagoda
Limekiln Trails
Location: California, Central Big Sur
Nice hike through forests to historic limekiln ruins and a waterfall
Partington Cove Trail
Location: California, Northern Big Sur
Tunnel and nice walkways lead to a picturesque hidden cove
Tanbark Trail and Tin House ♦
Location: California, Big Sur, Northern
Great hike through redwood forests with a waterfall and great views, ending at the ruins of an old tin house
Bixby Bridge
Location: California, Northern Big Sur
Iconic, oft-photographed bridge on the Big Sur coast
Mrauk U ♦
Location: Myanmar, Western, Rakhine State
Former capital of the ancient Arakine Kingdom, Mrauk U is a remote area with a fascinating history and excellent Indiana Jones-esque temples
Yangon
Location: Myanmar, Southern
Largest city in Myanmar, featuring a mix of modern architecture, British colonial buildings, and historic temples and pagodas including the famous Shwedagon Pagoda.
Sunrise Balloon Ride over Bagan ♦
Location: Myanmar, Western Mandalay Region
Balloon ride providing outstanding views of the temples of Old Bagan and the Irrawaddy River.
Bagan
Location: Myanmar, Western Mandalay State
Ancient city and former capital of Myanmar, famous for its historic and picturesque temples and pagodas
Sagar
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Rarely visited ruined royal capital south of Inle Lake, famous for its sunken stupas
Inle Lake
Location: Myanmar, Western Shan State
Beautiful lake with bordering villages famous for its fishermen, temples, and monasteries
Kealakekua Bay ♦
Location: Hawaii, Big Island, Kailua-Kona Area
Fantastic spot for snorkeling that generally sees a lower volume of tourists due to more difficult access
Neang Khmao
Location: Cambodia, Northern, Koh Ker
Picturesque distinctly colored temple with blue-black walls
Queenstown
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Queenstown
Popular travel destination featuring various tourist activities including bungee jumping and jet boating.
Lake Tekapo
Location: New Zealand, Canterbury, Lake Tekapo area
Lake with beautiful turquoise water set amidst lovely scenery and a cute lakeside town.
Larnach Castle
Location: New Zealand, Otago, Dunedin area
Large historic home with beautiful gardens and coastal views
Waipapa Point Lighthouse
Location: New Zealand, South Island, The Catlins
Southern-most lighthouse on the South Island set amidst classic wind-swept trees.
Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes ♦
Location: Alaska, Northern Alaskan Peninsula
Dramatic and beautiful active volcanic valley – home of the Katmai Crater.
Golden Gate Bridge
Location: California, San Francisco
Options for viewing the Golden Gate Bridge, including some iconic viewpoints.
Sutro Bath Ruins
Location: California, San Francisco
Explore the ruins of a late 19th century swimming pool complex
Marin Headlands ♦
Location: California, San Francisco Bay Area
Explore a beautiful historic military area including old batteries and bunkers.
Goat Canyon Trestle ♦
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Off trail hike to the famous and historic Goat Canyon wooden trestle
Distance: 6 miles round trip, 3000 feet of elevation gain
Calcite Mine & Slot Canyons
Location: California, Anza Borrego Desert
Old calcite mining area with multiple options for non-technical slot canyons
Distance: 4.2 miles round trip, 800 feet of elevation gain