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Travel

How Motel Ownership Offers Indian-Americans a Gateway to the American Dream

America’s motels are owned mostly by families from the Indian state of Gujarat, a new exhibit tells the story of life behind the lobby walls

Monks celebrating Full Moon Day light thousands of small oil lamps around a pagoda in Pindaya, a small town near Inle Lake.

Photos: Burma’s Sacred Sites

Take a trip through this emerging destination with beautiful photos submitted to our annual photo contest

Is Drinking Chocolate America’s New Cupcake?

When one trend falls by the wayside, another one must take it place. This winter, take advantage of this beverage on the rise

Dublin at twilight.

The Inside Scoop on Jury’s Irish Cabaret in Dublin, Where Blarney Met Vaudeville

Rediscover a classic Smithsonian Folkways recording of an Irish variety show that first tickled tourists in 1963

Invitees to the museum’s grand reopening in 2008 admire the newly restored flag.

Previewing the Smithsonian’s Plans for the 200th Anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner

And at the same time, the American History Museum celebrates its 50th birthday

500,000 Cranes Are Headed for Nebraska in One of Earth’s Greatest Migrations

At the end of March, 80 percent of the world’s cranes will converge upon one 80-mile stretch of land

Depth of the canyon.

Slovenia’s Ancient Skocjan Caves are Mesmerizing

These formations are some of the largest subterranean chambers in the entire world

A gondola, piled high with books, sits in the middle of the shop.

Why Does This Bookstore Keep Its Books in Bathtubs?

Venice’s Libreria Acqua Alta keeps its books in bathtubs, gondolas and canoes—and not just for show

These noodles are actually a place for visitors to Winnipeg's Red River Mutual Trail to stay warm in the chilly winter weather.

These Architects Have Created Fun and Weird Ways to Stay Warm in the Winter

It’ll make it worth your while to visit Winnipeg in February

The Milky Way over Crater Lake, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.

Virtual Travel

Take a Photo Tour Through Oregon’s Rugged Landscapes

Travel through Oregon’s scenic backcountry with our reader-submitted photos

A pool built in an unused metro station could help compensate for a lack of sports facilities in the city, the designers say.

Could There Be Swimming Pools or Gardens in Paris’ Abandoned Metro Stations?

Two architects offer fantastical designs for how to repurpose some of Paris’ forgotten subway stations

Cat cafe in Tokyo

Pay Purr Pet at Japan’s Cat Cafés

For a small fee, visitors can sip on drinks while surrounded by friendly felines

Blood Falls seeps from the end of the Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney.

Antarctica’s Blood Red Waterfall

On the southern edge of the world, a waterfall runs red as blood

Over 90 Chinese warriors will light up the University of Edinburgh's quadrangle.

Celebrate Chinese New Year With These Life-Size Warrior Lanterns

The University of Edinburgh is displaying life-size lanterns inspired by the famous army of terracotta soldiers

Canada

Stunning Bubbles Frozen Under Lake Abraham

Frozen bubbles of methane trapped beneath Alberta’s Lake Abraham are beautiful, but dangerous if popped

What’s Up With This Russian House? The Ceiling

As part of an art installation, the “All-Russian Exhibition Center” built a house — the wrong way

A Kambala, or buffalo race in Mangalore, India.

Photos: India’s Karnataka Coast

Explore western India’s Coastal Karnataka region with these photos taken by our readers

Viewed from Lake Superior, ice caves on Apostle Islands.

Deep Freeze Reveals Lake Superior’s Secluded Ice Caves

For five years, the winter wonder of Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands sea caves have been hiding—but recent freezing temperatures have revealed their beauty

Place des Vosges in Paris. The location of Victor Hugo's apartment for 16 years.

Victor Hugo: Acclaimed Author, Unknown Furniture Designer

The apartment once occupied by the author of Les Miserables is now a museum dedicated to his life and to 19th century Paris

"You're in three dimensional space": "Aerial America" got the swoop on Padre Island during the series' visit to Texas.

How the Crew of “Aerial America” Gets its Stunning Shots

A new fusion of camera and captor gives us a bird’s-eye view of America

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