The UNESCO-listed landscapes of the Plitvice Lakes National Park look like they are taken straight from a postcard. The magnificent tree-lined Upper Lakes, Gornja Jezera, and the awe-inspiring Veliki Slap, Croatia’s biggest waterfall, will leave you speechless. You can go on a cruise around the Lower Lakes, Donja Jezera, to make your trip extra special.

Built in the early 1400s, around the same time as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven was where emperors prayed for good harvests. The vast park contains several ceremonial buildings, the most striking being the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests with its blue-tiled roof and intricate wooden ceiling. The original hall was destroyed by lightning in 1889 but rebuilt soon after. Other highlights include the Hall of Abstinence, where emperors fasted before rituals, and the Circular Mound Altar — a three-tiered marble platform symbolising heaven itself. Today, the park is as much about everyday life as it is about history: locals gather here in the mornings for tai chi, dancing, and music.

Known affectionately as “The Meyerson,” this symphony center consistently beckons both Dallas residents and visitors — even those without previous experience or taste for orchestral music. Possessing exquisite acoustics and breathtaking architecture, The Meyerson plays host to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony, the Turtle Creek Chorale, and countless others. With a large repertoire of musical and non-musical events, it is sure to impress even the most seasoned aficionado.

Step back thousands of years at this archaeological treasure within Tomoka State Park. The site preserves the remnants of a Timucuan Indian community, one of the earliest Native American settlements on Florida’s Central East Coast. These mounds and shell middens—layers of discarded shells, pottery, and other artifacts—offer a glimpse into the daily lives and ceremonial practices of the Timucua people.