Fall 2013

Underneath the glistening sun and crashing waves of Cancún, Mexico, lies a hidden treasure—an underwater sculpture museum in Manchones Reef. The sculptures, created by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor for the Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA), is a collection of four hundred life-size statues modeled after workers, farmers, and other people who live near the reef. The exhibit provides an opportunity for scuba divers, snorkelers, and other tourists to interact with the ocean in a new way, all while preserving the life and natural beauty of the ocean.

Las Vegas is known for its extravagant casinos and bustling nightlife, but few people are familiar with the gorgeous landscapes situated just 45 minutes from the center of the Strip. Perfect for hiking, these locations offer a wide variety of sights and experiences for everyone—from the amateur climber to the experienced trekker.

US Route 1 winds 2,450 miles along the US East Coast through major cities like Miami, D.C., Boston, and New York City. But in the autumn, especially around early or mid-October, the stretch of highway along the coast of Maine is particularly striking when the landscape turns into a foliage sunset. While the drive itself will expose you to a myriad of colors, stopping and stepping out into this autumn scene will enrich your experience.

I grew up in a tourist trap, surrounded on every side by meccas for the traveler. From the front door of my childhood home, you can drive 40 minutes in any direction and end up in one of America’s must-see locations: the Golden Gate Bridge, the vineyards of Napa Valley, Redwood National Park, California’s state capitol, and the Jelly Belly factory. Even though these landmarks were a part of my backyard, they never lost their appeal.

There’s something about the crunch of leaves underfoot and the hints of an upcoming winter that makes people want to celebrate. But don’t limit yourself to the traditional Americana of Halloween and Thanksgiving. The United States is home to many ethnic enclaves with a variety of cultural festivals. It turns out that, for all the cultural differences, deep down we all just want an excuse to eat, dance, and celebrate.

Sicily’s port at the Strait of Messina is a short trip south from the most popular destinations in Italy, making Sicily the perfect weekend getaway. Many ships leave those ports daily en route to the island. When travelers arrive, they’ll find several cozy hotels on the coast. Fred Rodio, a traveler who began his trip to Sicily by enjoying a beautiful sunrise, comments, “I wasn’t sure what to expect in Sicily, but from the first morning there, I knew that I would not be disappointed.”

The camera spans across the bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, where locals gather to lift softly glowing lanterns into the dark autumn sky. Small green and purple boats made of leaves and Styrofoam carry flowers and candles out across the water, symbolically carrying away the griefs of the past year. It’s the 2011 celebration of Loi Krathong, the annual festival of the “Floating Crown,” and in the wake of major flooding across Bangkok, the small boats are weighed with more grief than usual.

Kirsten and Scott Morris, a US couple living and teaching in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, were riding to their apartment on the 16th floor one morning. Music abruptly started playing in the normally quiet elevator. After a startled pause, they spontaneously broke into dance. In the attitude of “go with it,” Kirsten and Scott rocked out to the elevator music until they reached their floor. When the doors opened, they calmly stepped out, giving no evidence of what had just transpired.

Cateura, one of the poorest cities in Paraguay, is ruled by its enormous landfill. Nearly everyone who calls this small town home works at the landfill and lives in a shack made from corrugated metal and scrap wood that were found among the garbage. Over the years, ton after ton of solid waste flowed down from the capital city, Asunción, to the landfill here in Cateura. Because the people had no place to dispose of their own garbage, the trash piled high in the city and filled the lagoon, leaving the land and the water polluted and unsanitary.

Alice had been in Wonderland for a short time when she exclaimed that it got “curiouser and curiouser” every moment. Wouldn’t it be fun to go on your own curious adventure? Well, if curious sights are what you’re after, check out the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

If you’re not quite ready for the warm weather to leave as fall creeps in, Undara Volcanic National Park in North Queensland is the perfect place to enjoy Australia’s springtime, avoid crowds, and see something others rarely see when they visit Australia.

You’ve been to other amusement parks. You’ve seen the long lines at Knott’s Berry Farm, the high-tech rides at Six Flags, the commercialized attractions at Disneyland. But you’ve never experienced a place quite like Xcaret.

Every child dreams of defying gravity by swinging 360 degrees around the spindle of a swing set. In 1996, Estonian engineer Ado Kosk made this dream a reality. Kosk adapted Estonia’s traditional swings, which have wooden shafts rather than chains. Kosk’s version had adjustable steel poles and foot straps to hold swingers in place while they fly in a full loop around the top of the frame. His adaptation ushered in kiiking (pronounced keeking), an extreme sport in which competitors swing around the spindle at increasing levels of difficulty.

Star anise, a unique spice with a unique eight-pointed star shape, comes from Vietnamese- and Chinese-native evergreen trees and has been used for cooking and medicinal purposes since 100 BC. Star anise has a spicy, somewhat bitter licorice flavor and is used to enhance many poultry and beef dishes. It is also used often with seafood and pears. Star anise is used in many dishes around the world, so you can enjoy an entire day’s worth of star anise–inspired recipes from all four corners of the globe.

Traditionally carved drums add an important artistic dimension to Ghanaian culture.

In the recent film adaption of The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins asks Gandalf the Gray to promise they will return alive from their dangerous quest. Gandalf’s response? “No. And if you do, you will not be the same.”