Destinations

Malaysia Beaches Are the Kind You Daydream About

Malaysia isn’t necessarily known for its beaches, often falling by the wayside due to the beautiful beaches of nearby Thailand and Indonesia, so it’s not a traditional go-to beach destination.

Explore the Capital Where Train Tracks Cut Through Neighborhoods and Cafés Hide in Ancient Shop-houses

One of the oldest continuously inhabited capitals in the world, this city carries centuries of history within its streets.

Sri Lanka’s Cities Are the Island’s Best-Kept Secret

In recent years, the tourism industry in Sri Lanka has really taken off, and it’s easy to see why.

The Islands That Make Every Other Coastline Look Ordinary

Jagged mountains rising straight from the sea, colorful fishing villages, and dramatic Arctic landscapes make these islands some of the most spectacular in Europe.

8 Amazing Day Trips from Frankfurt

Situated on the River Main is the large city of Frankfurt, a major hub for finance and trade in Germany.

Most Travelers Come to Hawaii for the Beaches and Miss Places Like These

Smoldering volcanoes, emerald rainforests, and dramatic coastal cliffs create some of the most spectacular landscapes in the United States.

15 Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss in Geneva

Home to major international organizations and a strong diplomatic presence, this affluent city offers far more than its global reputation suggests.

It’s Hard to Believe an American President Once Called This Beautiful Estate Home

Somewhere along the Potomac River, about fifteen miles south of the National Mall, a white-columned mansion sits on a bluff with a view that’s barely changed in two centuries.

A Full-Scale Noah’s Ark Sounds Impossible Until You Stand Next to It

Somewhere in the rolling farmland between Cincinnati and Lexington, a wooden structure rises above the Kentucky hills that stops most first-time visitors mid-sentence.

10 Best Places to Visit in North Dakota

Desolate and wild, yet scenic and beautiful, underpopulated North Dakota is one of the least-visited states in the whole country, although it certainly has a lot to offer visitors.

George Peabody Library Baltimore Visitor Guide Most visitors don't expect to find one of the most striking interiors in America tucked behind a row of white columns in a quiet Baltimore neighborhood. You walk through the doors of the Peabody Institute in Mount Vernon, turn a corner, and suddenly you're standing beneath a skylit atrium that climbs six stories above a polished marble floor. It stops you cold. The George Peabody Library Baltimore is that kind of place. It doesn't announce itself from the street. There's no flashy signage, no grand plaza. But step inside the stack room and you'll see why people call it a "cathedral of books." Over 300,000 volumes line the walls, and the space itself feels like something pulled from a 19th-century novel you half-remember reading. Johns Hopkins University runs the place as part of its Sheridan Libraries system. This isn’t a museum replica—it’s a working research collection. You can visit for free during public hours, which makes it one of the easiest cultural stops in Baltimore. Whether you’re chasing that perfect symmetrical shot up through the iron balconies or just want a quiet ten minutes surrounded by something genuinely beautiful, the library delivers without asking much of your time or your wallet. Cast-Iron Balconies And The Soaring Atrium The first thing that hits you is the scale. Five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies rise from the ground floor and climb 61 feet to a massive skylight that floods the room with natural light. The effect is vertical and dramatic, like standing inside a very elegant cage made of books and ironwork. Each balcony tier is lined with gold-and-black volumes shelved behind low railings, and the repeating geometric patterns of the iron railings create a visual rhythm that photographers obsess over. Point your camera straight up from the center of the floor and you'll get that iconic symmetrical shot that's all over travel feeds. The image almost looks digitally generated, but it's real, and it's been here since 1878. The marble floor adds to the atmosphere. Sound carries differently in here. Footsteps echo softly, and conversations drop to whispers without anyone being told. The reading room on the ground level sits just off the main atrium, offering a quieter space with wooden tables and the kind of warm, worn-in feeling that modern libraries rarely manage. The light keeps the space from feeling like a museum. On a clear afternoon, sunlight pours through the skylight and shifts across the iron railings and book spines, changing the room's character every hour. You could visit twice in the same day and walk away with completely different impressions. A Quick History Of The Landmark George Peabody, a financier who got his start in Baltimore before heading off to London, founded the Peabody Institute in 1857. He wanted to give something meaningful back to the city that launched his career—a free public library, a lecture series, a music conservatory, and an art gallery. The library building itself took its sweet time, finally opening up in 1878. Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind teamed up with Nathaniel H. Morison, the institute's first provost, to design the interior. Lind focused on that dramatic stack room—he wanted it to feel grand enough to match Peabody's vision but still practical for researchers. Local craftsmen made the decorative cast-iron balconies, and people immediately noticed the design. It stood out as one of the most distinctive library interiors on the East Coast. The collection changed hands a few times. In 1966, the City of Baltimore took over and ran things through the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Then, in 1982, Johns Hopkins University stepped in, and the library became part of the Sheridan Libraries system. These days, the focus is on 18th- and 19th-century works—architecture, religion, science, geography, literature—with gems from folks like Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman. George Peabody Library Baltimore

One of America’s Most Beautiful Interiors Is Hidden in Baltimore

Most visitors don’t expect to find one of the most striking interiors in America tucked behind a row of white columns in a quiet Baltimore neighborhood.

Most People Think This Futuristic Sphere Is the Attraction Until They Step Inside

You notice it before you even know what you’re looking at.

Best Cities in Arkansas to Live and Visit

Best Cities to Live in Arkansas

Appropriately known as the ‘Natural State’, Arkansas is home to everything from rugged mountains and roaring rivers to vast forests and reflective lakes.

8 Wonders of California Not to Be Missed

The Golden State is home to some of the most famous landmarks and attractions in the United States, possibly even the world.

Forget Milwaukee: This Capital City Offers Charming Neighborhoods, Unique Festivals, and Scenic Trails

Set on a narrow isthmus between two sparkling lakes, this scenic capital city offers a rare blend of natural beauty and urban energy.