Shelby Farms Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, covering 4,500 acres (about 1,820 hectares) of green space, lakes, and trails. Once a prison farm, it’s now a massive outdoor playground with everything from hiking and biking trails to paddleboarding and zip-lining. You might even spot a small herd of buffalo roaming the grounds. Designed with input from the team behind NYC’s High Line, it’s a go-to spot for outdoor lovers looking to escape the city for a bit.

The IWM North explores the impact of war and conflict on people’s lives, both historically and in the present day. Designed by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, the building itself is a striking representation of a world fractured by conflict. At its opening, Libeskind described his vision as creating a space that “emotionally moves the soul of the visitor toward a sometimes unexpected realisation.” Located on Trafford Wharf Road in Trafford Park, the museum overlooks the Manchester Ship Canal — an area that played a crucial industrial role during World War II and suffered heavy bombing in the 1940 Manchester Blitz.

In 1832, Russia began construction of the fortress of Bomarsund. Since Åland then constituted the westernmost part of Czarist Russia and had a location of strategic importance, Russia desired a strong military presence and an impressive fortress there. During the Crimean War, in 1854, an Anglo-French naval force attacked the fortress, which resulted in the Battle of Bomarsund. The fortress was demolished and today only ruins (and the Bomarsund Museum) serve testament to Russian presence and the grandiose plans once wielded for Åland. If you wish to find out more about this part of the struggle between the great powers during the Crimean War, visit Bomarsund, and watch the film “Bomarsund, vägen till fred” ("the road to peace").