10 things only Scottish locals know – and you should too before traveling there

Jam-packed with hidden glens, haunted castles and cryptic lochs, overrun with mind-boggling festivals and melodious bagpipe players, and soaked in peated whisky, gin and rain, Scotland can be as baffling as it is brilliant. This country specializes in astonishing travelers at the same time as confounding them, delivering a double punch of euphoria and disbelief.…

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Pick Niagara-on-the-Lake over Niagara Falls

Often maligned as tacky, dingy and disappointingly kitsch, Niagara Falls suffers a bad rap. Recently, it has even had to fend off the dubious distinction of being named Canada’s worst tourist trap. But as a long-time Ontarian (albeit one who now lives full-time in Paris), I’m throwing out an unpopular opinion: anyone who berates the…

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You’ve probably never been to Bath County, Virginia. Here’s why you should

Drifting on a float noodle in the Gentlemen’s Bathhouse at the Warm Springs Pools is the best kind of time travel. Ninety-eight degree waters. Blue skies overhead. And a frozen-in-time setting that would be recognizable to a long line of presidents, socialites and mineral spring devotees – and maybe a few nude bathers, too.  The…

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The 5 best road trips in the Loire Valley

The scenery in the Loire Valley changes around every curve. Honey-colored villages give way to lavish castles. Vine-draped fields back onto the lush banks of the Loire, France’s longest river. And although trains serve each of the region's main destinations, the best way to explore is by car. It gives you better access to the…

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Portugal on a budget

Portugal once enjoyed a reputation as one of Europe’s most affordable destinations. While prices have been on the rise in recent years (thanks in part to the nation’s growing popularity), you can still travel inexpensively. Portugal’s parks and nature reserves are all free to visit, as is the wide array of trails and greenways. Starting the…

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