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I am so glad borders and walls are out of fashion in Europe. The continent’s many proud nations don’t always get along, but they have learned to respect each other, making it possible for peace to flourish.

Leavenworth is a trip. Nestled against the far side of the Cascade mountains just a few hours east of Seattle, this little town does an impression of a Bavarian village with all its might.

Switzerland is excellent at promoting itself, and its most famous experiences — the Matterhorn, fondue, chocolate — are worth the hype. But if you’re planning a Swiss adventure, consider these lesser-known Swiss travel treats as well.

You don’t go to the most isolated islands in the San Juans for the amenities. You go for the quiet, for pitch-black nights with the sound of waves hitting the beach. You go for the rare opportunity to disconnect from your modern, plugged-in life.

When it comes to basking in the beauty of the Italian Riviera, the Cinque Terre is tops for me. But there’s much more to this region on the Mediterranean coast than those famous five villages.

EDMONTON — Alberta’s new provincial museum in downtown Edmonton is officially open. Premier Rachel Notley unveiled a life-sized statue of the Royal Alberta Museum’s signature Ice Age mammoth in the main rotunda Wednesday. The museum, which cost $375.

It was my second attempt to manage the tiller of the 61-foot-long narrowboat. The first one hadn’t gone especially well. It felt like pushing a fully grown Douglas fir down a slalom run with a pool cue.

The French countryside is littered with medieval monasteries — stony, quiet, and atmospheric. Some are in a state of ruin; others are still home to peaceful monks or sisters going about their religious work.

GANGI, Italy — Far from the packed beaches of Sicily’s busy coastlines, there’s a quieter and wilder world in its high mountains.

Tens of thousands of employees at more than 18,000 U.S. hotels will soon carry panic buttons to help protect them from harassment and assault in an era of heightened awareness around the #MeToo movement.