Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Travel

Cameos

Adventures of a Portuguese Poet

Wild-hearted Luis Vaz de Camoes’ years abroad are not well-known, but that hasn’t lessened his legend

A view of Macau at night and the tail of the Dragon's bridge show a skyline full of potential and color as buildings continue to arise on reclaimed land

Macau Hits the Jackpot

In just four years, this 11-square-mile outpost on the coast of China eclipsed Las Vegas as gambling’s world capital

In a "city of neighborhoods," Johnson found "an ideal environment for nurturing innovation, individualism and the creative spirit."

In Seattle, a Northwest Passage

He arrived unsure of what to expect—but the prolific author quickly embraced Seattle’s energizing diversity

Piccolo Lagazuoi as seen from Cinque Torre, an Italian position overlooking the front line

Climbing the Via Ferrata

In Italy’s Dolomites, a Hike Through World War I History

William Edgar Geil on the Great Wall at Luowenyu, June 7, 1908. William Lindesay had thumbed through Geil’s book The Great Wall of China, and was stunned by the photographs, particularly one showing Geil near a tower on a remote section of the wall. Lindesay had a photo of himself in that very spot but noticed that in his the tower was missing.

A Yankee in China

William Lindesay follows the trail of forgotten traveler, William Edgar Geil, the first man to traverse the Great Wall of China

Sun Zhenyuan views preserving the wall as a sacred mission: “If you had an old house that people were damaging, wouldn’t you want to protect it?”

The Great Wall of China Is Under Siege

China’s ancient 4,000-mile barrier, built to defend the country against invaders, is under renewed attack

Paul Polak, author of the book, "Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail."

Paul Polak, Social Entrepreneur, Golden, Colorado

His new book advocates helping the world’s poorest people one tool at a time

Jamar Roberts and Amos J. Machanic Jr. help Olivia Bowman defy gravity at the Ailey studio in 2007.

Points of Interest

Notable American Destinations and Happenings

trans-siberian railway

A World on Rails

A journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway offers inspiring sights, from snowscapes to wildlife

At a major crossroads, Champagne has been at the center of European history during both war and peace for millennia. Named campania by the Romans for its high plains and open hills suitable for planting fields of grains, grapes, and other products, Champagne remains one of the most important and productive agricultural regions in France.

Snapshot: The Champagne Region

Celebrating the new year has become synonymous with drinking champagne, but the grapes are from an area steeped in history

Polo wrote of men with dogs’ features (a French illustration, c. 1412), among several other fantastic creatures.

Wonders and Whoppers

Following in Marco Polo’s footsteps through Asia leads our intrepid author to some surprising conclusions

Set like a jewel on the edge of Lake Como, the city of Como (its shoreline at dusk) is not just a tourist mecca but also an important center of the country’s silk industry, providing high-quality goods to the fashion houses of New York City, Paris and Milan.

Silken Treasure

The Italian city of Como, celebrated for its silk and scenery, has inspired notables from Leonardo da Vinci to Winston Churchill

None

Wild at Heart

A Yosemite program introduces kids to the great outdoors

Beirut, from an apartment damaged by Hezbollah shelling. As sectarian tensions flared this past May, hostilities escalated. The renewal of violence dashed hopes that Lebanon could soon become -- once again -- "a freewheeling place where everybody could live his own life.”

Precarious Lebanon

For decades, this tiny Mediterranean nation of four million has segued between two identities

A crowd watches newly hatched Kemp's ridley turtles make their way to the surf.

Points of Interest

Notable American Destinations and Happenings

The east side of Deer Isle is called Sunshine and is home to beautiful vacation houses, as well as some of the country's largest lobster-holding tanks. Sylvester Cove is in Sunset, on the island's western side, which is also home to the Island Country Club, where the roadside sign proclaims "public welcome."

Snapshot: Deer Isle

Natural beauty abounds on Maine’s second-largest coastal island

Washington State International Kite Festival

Destination America

Hotspots and Highlights

None

The Morning After

My transition from senior to citizen

Cypress swamps along Natchez Trace

End of the Road

In the 1800s, travelers along the perilous forest trail known as the Natchez Trace called it the “Devil’s Backbone”

Young guests and living history staffers unload hay.

Back to the Frontier

At Conner Prairie, Indiana, living history is the main event

Page 168 of 202