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Travel

G. Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian, at Lake Hoare.

Day 4: Touring By Helicopter

Secretary Clough visits the driest place on the planet, Ernest Shackleton’s hut, penguins, whales and more on his final day in Antarctica

Mimi Sheraton has been a food writer for over 50 years.

Mimi Sheraton on “Ultimate Pho”

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South San Francisco, California

An industrious community

In the mid-19th century, a newfound respect for history led to Kalmar Castle's renovation.

Kalmar Castle: Sweden’s Royal Hub

From medieval palace to prison, distillery and granary, this castle was finally restored to its original glory

Glamorous sailboats fill Copenhagen's canal.

Affording Copenhagen

Travelers on a budget can still enjoy the Danish capital

Renting a bike is a great way to explore Aero Island. Along the way you will see many U-shaped farms, typical of Denmark.

Aero Island Bike Ride (or Car Tour)

Rent a bicycle and see all this charming island has to offer

Carved in place from limestone, the Sphinx is among the world's largest statues.

Uncovering Secrets of the Sphinx

After decades of research, American archaeologist Mark Lehner has some answers about the mysteries of the Egyptian colossus

Robert Scurlock covered Marian Anderson's performance at the Lincoln Memorial after she was denied the stage at Washington's Constitution Hall.

The Scurlock Studio: Picture of Prosperity

For more than half a century the Scurlock Studio chronicled the rise of Washington’s black middle class

"Not gussied up or cute, Lafayette is a sturdy town, persistent in its character," says Patricia Henley.

Sticking Around Lafayette, Indiana

She didn’t plan on staying, but more than 20 years later novelist Patricia Henley embraces her adopted community

John Ford, who filmed westerns in the valley (the Mittens and Merrick Butte), called it the "most complete, beautiful and peaceful place on earth."

Behind the Scenes in Monument Valley

The vast Navajo tribal park on the border of Utah and New Mexico stars in Hollywood movies but remains largely hidden to visitors

Perez (at home in Guatemala in 2001) "really had a foot in both worlds," Donna DeCesare says.

Out of the Guatemalan Gang Culture, an Artist

Carlos Perez could have been an artist or a gangster. Photographer Donna DeCesare helped him choose

A focal point for visitors today, the gateway sign says "Work Will Set You Free," a monstrous lie told to the men, women and children imprisoned there.

Can Auschwitz Be Saved?

Liberated in 1945, the Nazi concentration camp is one of Eastern Europe’s most visited sites—and most fragile

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in 1900 over the supposed grave of a legendary Estonian hero.

A Walking Tour of Tallinn

Take in the beautiful sights of the capital city and the central town square from viewpoints on high

Overlooking the Song Festival Grounds from the cheap seats is a statue of Gustav Ernesaks, who directed the Estonian National Male Choir for 50 years.

Estonia’s Singing Revolution

A long-standing tradition among Estonians, singing festivals served an important role in the country’s struggle for independence from the Soviet Union

Large ferries like this Viking Line vessel cruise between Helsinki and Tallinn every day.

Sailing to Estonia

Tourists can catch an overnight cruise from Sweden or take a short boat trip from Finland to get to Estonia

Kristina Johnson and Wayne Clough hoist the Smithsonian flag atop Observation Point—a site memorializing explorers who have died at the South Pole.

Day 3: A Day at the South Pole

Flying over the paths trod by explorers before him, Secretary Clough arrives at the South Pole eager to meet the Smithsonian scientists working there

Monument Valley is not a national park. There aren't signs and rangers all around explaining the landscape and wildlife.

Tips on Roads Less Traveled in Monument Valley

Driving through the southwest? Make sure to read our tips on the best ways to appreciate Monument Valley

Four emperor penguins standing together near the ice roads in Antarctica.

Day 2: Arriving at the Spectacular Antarctic

Secretary Clough lands on a barren continent intertwined with Smithsonian history, prepared to discover the research being done

Christchurch is the home of the United States/New Zealand polar logistics center and is the jumping-off point for the flight to Antarctica.

Day 1: A Stopover in New Zealand

As the first Smithsonian secretary to set foot on Antarctica, Secretary Clough prepares for his trip from a research center in Christchurch

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Mint Hill, N.C.

A suburb in the city of Charlotte

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