Istanbul Travel Guide Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and then the Ottoman Empire—has for centuries been a bustling and cosmopolitan crossroads. For visitors, what will probably be more striking than the meeting of East and West in Istanbul, is the juxtaposition of the old and the new, tradition and modernity. Brash concrete-and-glass hotels and of ...

Prague Travel Guide Simply put, Prague is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. An evening stroll across the Charles Bridge—as the sun sets behind the castle and the last rays are reflected by the Old Town's golden spires—has become one of those European "musts." And who can forget the beer? Hradcany (Castle Area) The Castle district is known for being the seat of Prague Castle, and its sights can easily t ...

Bermuda Travel Guide Bermuda is justifiably famous for pink-sand beaches, impossibly blue water, and kelly-green golf courses. But that's only the beginning. Thanks to its colorful past, this small sliver of land also has a surprising number of historic sites. In addition to countless quaint old cottages, it's said to have the oldest continually inhabited town of English origin in the Western Hemisphere and ...

Buenos Aires Travel Guide This city is really hot. Incredible food, fresh young designers, and a cultural scene that's thriving—all these Buenos Aires has. Here, a flirtatious glance can be as passionate as a tango; a heated sports discussion as important as a world-class soccer match. Its this zest for life that's making Buenos Aires Latin America's hottest destination. El Centro The term el centro is conf ...

Kauai Travel Guide Despite its small size—about 550 square miles—Kauai has four distinct regions, each with its own unique characteristics. The windward coast, which catches the prevailing trade winds, consists of the North Shore and East Side, while the drier leeward coast encompasses the South Shore and West Side. One main road nearly encircles the island, except for a 15-mi stretch of sheer cliffs called ...

Hong Kong Travel Guide Hong Kong is complex. On the surface it seems that every building is a sculpture of glass and steel and every pedestrian is hurrying to a meeting. But look past the shiny new surfaces to the ancient culture that gives the city an exotic flavor and its citizens a unique outlook. Central Shopping, eating, drinking—Central lives up to its name when it comes to all of these. But it's also ...

Charleston Travel Guide Wandering through the city's historic district, you would swear it was a movie set. The spires and steeples of more than 180 churches punctuate the low skyline, and the horse-drawn carriages pass centuries-old mansions and carefully tended gardens overflowing with heirloom plants. It's known for its quiet charm, and has been called the most mannerly city in the country. Immigrants se ...

Los Cabos Travel Guide Once upon a time, the majority of Cabo's visitors were anglers and came primarily from Southern California and the west coast. But these days they fly in nonstop to Los Cabos from all over the United States; and to Loreto and La Paz from some U.S. cities. Via nonstop service, Los Cabos is about 2 hours from San Diego, about 2¼ hours from Houston, 3 hours from Dallas/Fort Worth, 2½ hou ...

Amsterdam Travel Guide Amsterdam is a cornucopia of cafés, coffee shops, cozy bars, and outdoor markets. Set on 160 man-made canals, Amsterdam also has the largest historical inner city in Europe. The French writer J. K. Huysmans once called Amsterdam "a dream, an orgy of houses and water." It's true: when compared with other major European cities, this one is uniquely defined by its impressive gabled house ...

Maui Travel Guide When you experience Maui firsthand, it's hard not to gush about the long, perfect beaches, dramatic cliffs, greener-than-green rain forests, and the fragrance of plumeria that hangs over it all. Add to that the amazing marine life and the culture and history of the Hawaiian people, and it's easy to see why Maui is so popular. Today the threat of overdevelopment is a concern, which may help ...