Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Tourism

The real thrill of Pompeii is that the most mundane aspects of ancient Roman life have been preserved for centuries beneath fine-grained volcanic ash.

28 Places to See Before You Die—the Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon and More

We’ve traveled the globe and compiled a “life list” of places to visit before taking the ultimate trip to the great beyond

The Black Bayou at sunset.

Louisiana Overview

None

Snapshot: Yangtze River

A virtual vacation along China’s mighty waterway

"It used to be said that Yankees knew of only two places in Georgia—the Coca-Cola factory and Tara—and one of those was fictional," notes Greene (Atlanta's Olympic Park).

Some Don’t Like It Hot

Atlantans regard summer—and the overheated tourists it spawns—woefully

At the height of the season, there isn't a table to be had in Positano's elegant restaurants. Fresh seafood reigns, often served in a broth called "acqua pazza" made with garlic, oil, parsley, white wine and small tomatoes, washed down with wine from grapes cultivated in the terraced vineyards that line the cliffs.

Snapshot: Amalfi Coast

A virtual vacation to southern Italy’s historic and charming seaside

Cubans had fought vehemently for independence from Spain from the 1860s to the 1890s, but by the 20th century, the country had become beholden economically to the United States (a Cuban street, with a classic American car, today).

Before the Revolution

Socialites and celebrities flocked to Cuba in the 1950s

Last November, the three acres of land that makes up Astroland were sold to development company Thor Equities. It will close for good in September 2007.

Goodbye My Coney Island?

A new development plan may alter the face of New York’s famous amusement park

The top of the Great Pyramid is flat, providing a truly panoramic view. From this spot, visitors can also hear the wails of howler monkeys in the jungle that separates the Grand Plaza and the "Lost World."

Snapshot: Tikal

A virtual vacation to Tikal National Park in Guatemala

Locals prefer Turkish coffee without sugar, but first-timers often prefer to add sugar to make its powerful flavor a bit more palatable.

Getting Your Buzz with Turkish Coffee

Learn what makes this coffee unique and how to place an order for your own cup

A Turkish carpet could be the ultimate souvenir of your trip to Istanbul.

Buying a Carpet in Istanbul

A guide to types of Turkish carpets and techniques that go into making them

None

Cajun Country Highlights & Hotspots

Lawler, upriver from Alexandria in the Sudan: "The feeling of Alexandria was more evocative of the ancient world than anywhere else."

City of the Imagination

Andrew Lawler, author of “Raising Alexandria” talks about the hidden history of Egypt’s fabled seaside capital

Richard Conniff has made six trips to Africa since 1996.

Harvesting Tourists

In this Q & A, Richard Conniff, author of “Death in Happy Valley,” argues that tourism, not cattle-ranching, would be a better use of Kenyan land

None

Mixing Terrorism and Tourism

In this Q & A, Josh Hammer, author of “Peace at Last?,” discusses the change from war reporting to travel reporting

Soda bottles make up the bulk of the construction of a 3,500-liter cistern that Andreas Froese (pictured) and schoolchildren built in Roatan, Honduras. When filled with sand, the bottles become nearly indestructible.

Waste Into Walls: Building Casas Out of Sand

A green technology guru heads to the dump in search of the stuff of dreams

None

Interview with Erla Zwingle, Author of “Pamplona: No Bull”

Erla Zwingle talks about local festivals and her impressions of the city of Pamplona.

None

Rescuing Angkor

An unprecedented effort to reclaim the ancient temples from the Cambodian jungle is racing against a tourist onslaught

The fabled road (a c. 1955 postcard) stretched 2,448 miles.

Antique Road Show

Before the Interstates passed the highway by, America got its kicks on Route 66

View of Downtown Dubai

Dazzling Dubai

The Persian Gulf kingdom has embraced openness and capitalism. Might other Mideast nations follow?

The 14th-century Medersa Bou Inania, Fés.

Dreams in the Desert

The allure of Morocco, with its unpredictable mix of exuberance and artistry, has seduced adventurous travelers for decades

Page 27 of 28