Basilica Minore del Santo Niño was the first Asian basilica, built in 1740. It teems with devotees clambering to catch a glimpse of the oldest and most celebrated religious icon in the Philippines, the Santo Niño statue, presented to Queen Juana of Cebu by Magellan.

County Louth's coastline is truly impressive, spanning over 90 kilometres from Carlingford Lough to the picturesque beaches of Baltray. Embark on a fascinating journey along the Clogherhead Peninsula, where you'll feel as if you're walking on water. This scenic loop takes you along rocks believed to have been the source of the standing stones at Newgrange, eventually leading you to the charming Port Oriel. Immerse yourself in history as you wander through the winding of Drogheda. This town is brimming with historical remnants, including traces of Cromwell's influence. Don't miss the impressive St Laurence's Gate, and the macabre display of St Oliver's severed head at St Peter's Church. As you venture along Louth's coastline, be sure to explore the charming fishing villages of Termonfeckin and Clogherhead. Make a stop at Monasterboice to admire the majestic High Cross. Continue your journey to Dundalk, the gateway to Carlingford, where you can indulge in the cafe scene, experience exceptional music venues and admire vibrant murals.

Lyman Lake State Park, encompassing a reservoir on the Little Colorado River, is a haven for water enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. The expansive lake welcomes boats of all sizes, offering ample space for watersports and recreation. A designated "no wake" area provides ideal conditions for fishing, with opportunities to reel in walleye, channel catfish, and largemouth bass. Explore the scenic beauty of Lyman Lake State Park and discover a variety of activities for all ages, from boating and fishing to hiking and camping.

The beguinages of Flanders and the Netherlands are always oases of calm and stillness, where you might still expect to see an old beguine mumbling her prayers in a doorway. Two of Ghent’s three beguinages have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Although the Old St Elizabeth Beguinage, in Begijnhofdries in Ghent, is no longer enclosed by a wall, making it simply part of the city, it still has a unique atmosphere. Today the Old St Elizabeth Beguinage is known as ‘holy corner’, a place of religious tolerance, because it has no less than three different churches: one is Roman Catholic, one is Orthodox and the other is Protestant. From bleachfield to orchard This open beguinage grew into something of a ‘beguine city’ in the 13th century, with a church, the ‘Grootjuffer’s House’, an infirmary, a chapel, more than a hundred houses for beguines, a bleachfield (a field where linen was laid out to bleach) and an orchard. After the French Revolution, with increasing industrialisation, the inhabitants moved to their new beguinage in Sint-Amandsberg in 1873.