91原创

In Alberta鈥檚 high country, where the Trans-Canada Highway unfurls between Banff and Lake Louise, the Rockies march shoulder to shoulder flanking the road, peaks bristling, glaciers sparkling.

From a traveller鈥檚 perspective, Nurnberg 鈥� Bavaria鈥檚 second city 鈥� has it all: excellent museums, thought-provoking history, glorious red-sandstone Gothic architecture and a charming Old Town encircled by a nearly intact medieval wall.

If all of Turkish history were on this bus, I鈥檇 be sitting next to sultans, whirling dervishes, Silk Road caravanners, Greek shopkeepers, apostles and olive growers. Instead, I鈥檓 sitting next to a guy from New York and a couple from Toronto.

Big box, luxury vacations got you down? If the thought of whiling away another uninspired vacation under an umbrella is less than motivating, you may need to rethink your travel strategy.

The outfitter calls this the 鈥淓verest of sea kayaking,鈥� but as I paddle through a sea cave on the Na Pali coast of Kauai, I quickly realize the day鈥檚 peak experience will have nothing to do with a high mountain. It鈥檚 all about the sea caves.

It鈥檚 a crazy story but it鈥檚 true. It was 1964, and the 91原创 Aquarium wanted to display a life-size sculpture of an orca.

Deep in the south of France, Provence offers an almost predictable palette of travel experiences: oceans of vineyards, fields of scented lavender, adorable villages and intoxicating bouillabaisse. But the area is also crammed with ancient history.

I am terrible at foreign languages. Despite travelling to Europe four months a year, I can barely put a sentence together anywhere east or south of England.

Grand, centuries-old cathedrals distinguish Great Britain鈥檚 cities and towns, providing spiritual nourishment to those who visit. These places of worship seem ancient almost beyond imagination.

Twenty years ago, I was on a train heading to Rothenburg to update the ultimate medieval town in Germany for my guidebook. I knew the town well and was anticipating a happy homecoming.