‘The Natural State’ is located in the south-eastern region of the US, with the Mississippi River making up for most of its eastern border. Arkansas is generally split into lowlands and highlands, both of which boast their own natural beauty. The Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains are spread across the northwest part of the state, …
The captivating town of Óbidos became home to Portugal’s queens after Afonso II gifted it to his wife Urraca of León in the 1200s. Many of the buildings and monuments in were founded or funded by a queen. On a narrow ridge, the town’s weaving, carless streets are contained by the dominant walls of a …
Leaving Lisbon’s western suburbs and climbing into Sintra feels like crossing over into another world. This town is in a green mountainscape of palaces, country estates, parks and a medieval castle. In the centre, the Palace of Sintra was a residence for the Portuguese royalty, and it’s just one of many exquisite properties to win …
When well-heeled Lisboans need a change of airs in summer they go west to Cascais on the upper lip of the Tagus Estuary. At this beach getaway you can bathe in transparent waters at peaceful coves. Or you can brave the charging Atlantic waves of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park on a surfboard. Portugal’s royal family …
Hiding in Beira Litoral between the cities of Aveiro and Coimbra is the town of Cantanhede. Since prehistory there have been quarries in Cantanhede, exploiting rich seams of high-quality limestone. There’s a museum all about this stone in the centre of town, in one of a couple of sophisticated palaces from the 16th century. In …
Commanding vineyards and golden plains, Estremoz is a historic city within two layers of defensive walls. The upper core was a medieval home to royalty, where the Queen Elizabeth of Aragon passed away in the 14th century. In the lower reaches there’s a newer wall from the 17th century responding to the threat from Spain …
For couples who are looking for a getaway like no other, Wyoming awaits. This mountain region state is the least populous in the US, and it’s where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. There are many mountain ranges, plateaus, valleys and rivers. The state is full of varying mountain ranges, and it is also …
Vermont is a city in the New England region of the US, and despite its position, it is the second least populous state in the US, making it a great state to escape to for some camping in the summer or skiing in the winter. Vermont is comprised of several mountains, lakes and forest regions. …
Also known as the ‘City of Angels’, Los Angeles or L.A. is the most populous city in California and the second-most in the United States. The city’s strategic location on a broad basin in the southern end of the state makes it affluent in all things natural – mountains, forests, valleys, and of course the …
Wisconsin might be known for its picturesque lakes, rivers and prairies, but there’s far more to this great state than just outdoor activities and sightseeing. The “Dairy State”, as it’s often referred to, thanks to the copious amounts of delicious cheese it supplies to the rest of the U.S every year, is also home to …