Sitka’s historical Castle Hill was once the site of both Tlingit and Russian forts and thus gives visitors a grand view of the surrounding city, Sound, and mountains. Take a short walk to the top of the hill, move among the cannons and plaques as you take in one of the greatest views of the area without full-on climbing a...

Between the end of Lincoln Street and a rocky beach sits Sitka National Historical Park. This patch of forest is centered around an old Russian fort site with Tlingit and Haida totem poles erected along the way. While you walk along the beach path, keep an eye out for distant whale spouts on the water. Watch for running salmon and...

The original structure of St. Michael’s Cathedral was built in the mid-1800s, when Sitka and the rest of Alaska were under Russian control. Though destroyed in a fire in 1966, the new structure has been built to replicate the original church, allowing the iconic copper domes and Russian architecture to live on and beautify the city center. Tours of the...

Built as a monument to Enver Hoxha this vast pyramid housed a museum dedicated to him. It now stands part-derelict as an Ozymandian reminder about the passing of regimes – and as an irresistible challenge to those with a head for heights; there is usually at least one person either triumphantly or gingerly making their way up or down its sheer sides. It’s a good...

Shkodra is considered the cultural capital of the Northern Albanians and has a gently civilised atmosphere which makes it nice for strolling. Above the town sits the dramatic Rozafa castle, dating back to Illyrian times when it was used against the Romans, and which gives great views of the three rivers which converge at this point. There’s not much interpretation...

The square at the heart of town named after the national hero against the Ottomans, Skanderbeg. He sits on a horse in the middle of the square, his face set towards the north where he had his castle in Kruja. As all capital city architecture, this one provides a digest of the country’s heroes – looking north is the long boulevard...

The Martyrs’ Cemetery (in Albanian ‘Varreza e Deshmoreve’) is just outside town, about a 15 minute drive along Rr Elbasan. It is dominated by the enormous and rather marvellous statue of ‘Mother Albania’ which can be seen from the city. Visit at sunset for particularly dramatic photographs of this landmark. She watches over the graves of 900 people killed during...

If you hadn’t heard about it in advance you might be bemused to see this random collection of old concrete on a corner of Tirana’s main boulevard. However, the concrete monstrosities here are reminders of even worse monstrosities committed in the name of Communism – in Albania and beyond. There’s a piece of the Berlin wall and some pit props...

This interactive tour is a fitting jumping off point to explore Albuquerque. Riding in an open-air (during most seasons), stucco-covered trolley, on the “Best of Burque” tour you’ll visit several of the city’s top destinations as well as popular neighborhoods. On themed tours, visit “Breaking Bad” filming locations, holiday lights, and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

This charming plaza has been central to the community since Governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdez founded Albuquerque in 1706. Today, Old Town spans ten blocks of historic adobe buildings, many of which are occupied by galleries, boutiques, and souvenir shops. San Felipe de Neri Church, the oldest building in Albuquerque dating to 1793, stands on the north side of the...

Carved by Native American and Hispanic settlers 400 to 700 years ago, the petroglyph here make up one of the largest collections of carved rock art in North America. Explore the park via one or more of several trails, including the widely accessible Boca Negra Canyon trail and the longer, 2.2-mile, Rinconada Canyon trail. Located on the western edge of the...

One of North America’s longest aerial tramways, these cable cars whisk passengers from the Albuquerque foothills to the crest of the Sandia Mountains in 15 minutes. Built in 1966 as a way to access the Sandia Peak Ski Area on the east side of the mountains, the tram still transports skiers to the backside each winter. However, most riders come...

This lovely Gothic church is worthy of a visit simply for its architecture and stained-glass windows, but the masterpiece inside is the real draw. German artist Martin Schongauer’s La Vierge au Buisson de Roses (Virgin in the Rose Bush) was painted in 1473 and shows the Madonna, wearing a red robe, holding her infant son in a cluster of colorful...

Colmar is small enough to visit on foot, and large enough to keep you interested for two or three days. Make your first stop the Office of Tourism at Place Unterlinden, to pick up information on special events around town and exhibits at the city’s five museums. Also ask about guided tours in La Petite Venise, a canal laced historic district right out...

Professional guides from the Colmar Tourist Office conduct walking tours in several languages, including English, for groups and individuals. In addition to town walks, you can arrange a guided tour out to the nearby villages, vineyards, and mountains. Each local guide is trained in Alsatian art, history, architecture, and culture, so you’ll be getting the inside story as well as...

Allow about two hours to explore this stronghold built near the German border in the 1930s as part of a French defense plan known as the Maginot Line. Much of the structure is an underground system of tunnels designed to be a self-sufficient fortress and living quarters for about 600 military men. The original furniture and equipment is still in...

La Grande Île is the historic center of Strasbourg and the most interesting part of the city. This stretch of land is surrounded by branches of the Île River and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, due to its well-preserved medieval structures. Allow plenty of time to stroll along the cobblestone streets, visit the centuries-old buildings, and admire the...

This little village, near Fort Schoenenbourg and the North Vosges Regional Park, has maintained a great deal of its 18th- and 19th-century beauty and culture. Streets are lined with half-timbered houses featuring “privacy” windows that bulge outward and balconies trimmed with red geraniums. Town residents also preserve their rural traditions, and it’s not unusual to see them walking about on holidays dressed...

This is the heart of Strasbourg’s commercial district. You’ll find upscale shops lining the central square, which is dominated by a statue of Jean-Baptiste Kléber, who was a general during the French Revolution. He was born in the city in 1753, and his remains are buried in a vault beneath the statue. Notice Aubette Palace on the north side of...

Finished in 1480, this is the oldest public building in Colmar. It was originally a customs house set in the center of the town’s commercial district. The ground floor was used for storage of imported goods, and the upper level was a meeting room for a regional political group. Panorama of Colmar Climb to the top of the stone steps for...