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Tourism

Rangoon features timeless pleasures such as the Shwedagon Pagoda, a thirty-story gilded temple built more than a thousand years ago.

Touring Myanmar

A practical guide of what to see in the southeast Asian country, from ancient temples to variety shows

Portland has a "goofy, energetic optimism," says novelist Katherine Dunn, sitting on the city's Hawthorne Bridge.

Twice Charmed by Portland, Oregon

The Pacific Northwest city captivated the author first when she was an adventure-seeking adolescent and again as an adult

Travelers walked the Kiso Road as early as A.D. 703. Old stones still identify it as part of the Nakasendo, the inland highway connecting Kyoto and Tokyo.

A Walk Through Old Japan

An autumn trek along the Kiso Road wends through mist-covered mountains and rustic villages graced by timeless hospitality

About 16 million people visited the Blue Ridge Parkway, making it the National Park Service's most popular attraction.

75 Years of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Winding its way through Appalachia, the scenic road is the result of workers and politicians who blazed the trail in the 1930s

Hanamikoji street, Geisha district, Gion, Kyoto

In Kyoto, Feeling Forever Foreign

Travel writer Pico Iyer remains both fascinated and puzzled by the ancient Japanese city

Rick Steves’ Europe: Prague, Czech Republic

The city’s historic core is an exquisitely preserved showcase of Czech culture, including Art Nouveau architecture and some of the best beer in Europe

Rick Steves’ Europe: Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina

A decade and a half after an ethnic war, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most inviting city is re-emerging as a tourist destination

Rick Steves’ Europe: Istanbul, Turkey

A bustling modern metropolis, the Turkish city also reminds travelers that the charm of traditional cultures is still something to value

Rick Steves’ Europe: Hydra, Greece

For those willing to follow the uphill lanes, this Greek island offers tradition, magnificent views of the harbor and a relaxing vacation spot

Rick Steves’ Europe: Hallstatt, Austria

When Austrians want to enjoy the great outdoors, they head for a region of forested slopes, beckoning trails—and great fishing

Rick Steves’ Europe: Gimmelwald, Switzerland

On a mountainside above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Swiss traditions persist in a 700-year-old hamlet populated by contented cows and hospitable villagers

Rick Steves’ Europe: Tallinn, Estonia

Dominated by the Soviets for 50 years, the Estonian capital boasts medieval architecture and signature chic, attracting admirers of Old World character

Rick Steves’ Europe: Dingle, Ireland

On western Ireland’s remote and rugged peninsula, traditional Irish culture thrives

Rick Steves’ Europe: Medieval Castles

Ancient fortresses offer glimpses of medieval brutality and 19th-century Romanticism

Rick Steves’ Europe: Bruges, Belgium

Belgium’s exquisitely preserved medieval city is home to picturesque canals, gilded architecture, great beer and handcrafted chocolate

Rick Steves’ Europe: Algarve, Portugal

On Portugal’s south coast, The Algarve is home to both sun-seeking tourists and working fishermen with their colorful boats

Rick Steves’ Europe: Aero, Denmark

On this small island on the south edge of Denmark, visitors wander down picturesque streets of thatched cottages and savor the coastal views

Filoli owes its painterly splendor to two visionary figures—William Bowers Bourn II and Lurline Matson Roth.

Filoli: Garden of a Golden Age

Filoli—a lavish early 20th century estate that is the last of its kind—harks back to when San Francisco’s richest families built to dazzle

A throbbing two-block entertainment district is all that is left of old Beale Street, most of which was razed in urban renewal schemes.

The Soul of Memphis

Despite setbacks, the Mississippi River city has held onto its rollicking blues joints, smokin’ barbecue and welcoming, can-do spirit

Route 100, studded with historic landmarks like the Scott Bridge, "offers such remarkable visual experiences," says filmmaker Dorothy Lovering.

Vermont’s Venerable Byway

The state’s Route 100 offers an unparalleled access to old New England, from wandering moose to Robert Frost’s hideaway cabin

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