The Makauwahi Cave Reserve is a must-see for nature lovers and paleontology enthusiasts. This sinkhole is home to a sand-floored cave that holds a rich fossil record and evidence of the widespread extinction of native plants and animals. The reserve can be reached by hiking along the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail or by driving along a dirt road beyond the Grand Hyatt. Visitors can learn more about the site's history from the volunteers who are on hand daily in the cave and can take a walk along the rim of the sinkhole, which is being replanted with native species.

Spanning 140 acres, with 55 acres under cultivation, the Desert Botanical Garden showcases over 50,000 plants in carefully curated outdoor exhibits. From towering cacti to vibrant desert wildflowers, this oasis celebrates the resilience and splendor of plants adapted to arid environments. Visitors can begin their journey at the Ottosen Entry Garden and then explore the winding Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Loop Trail or the Desert Discovery Loop Trail. The latter serves as the garden’s main artery, connecting visitors to all trails, exhibits, and seasonal art installations. With educational programs, desert conservation efforts, and stunning nighttime exhibits like Las Noches de las Luminarias, the Desert Botanical Garden offers a fascinating and immersive experience for nature lovers, photographers, and families alike.

Step into this vast 9th-century mosque and you’ll find sunlit courtyards, weathered stucco arches, and a spiral minaret that winds up like a ramp. Climb to the top for a surprisingly quiet view over Cairo’s rooftops. The Ibn Tulun Mosque isn’t flashy, but that’s part of what makes it so striking — the space, the stillness, the sense of time just sitting in the air.

This national historical monument has a strategic location which was settled in the Celtic and Great Moravian periods. The architecture of the massive rectangular castle with four corner towers was mostly influenced by reconstruction works during the Gothic and Renaissance periods and during the reign of Maria Theresa. In 1811, it burned down and was then reconstructed in the 1960s.