Canada may have had some bad press over the environmental implications of exploiting its vast natural resources, but its capital Ottawa remains one of the cleanest, greenest cities in the world. At the confluence of three great rivers and with an intricate series of canals connecting it to Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay, it has […]

The futuristic towers of Dallas’ central district make for an impressive skyline, in this highly image conscious city made for conspicuous consumption. There are all the upmarket hang outs and fine dining opportunities you might expect from a multi-millionaire’s playground, with plenty for the indulgent visitor to enjoy. Downtown Fort Worth is far more understated […]

The Independence National Historical Park, quietly ensconced within Philadelphia’s sprawling borders, is widely regarded as the most historically significant square mile in the US; this is, after all, where the country itself was conceived. Indeed, this has been an almost unfortunate adornment for a city that became known as ‘corrupt and contented’ during the early […]

You may think you don’t know St Louis, but you probably do; the iconic Gateway Arch is one of the most photographed buildings in America. This charming American city has a happy knack for feeling like home and you could easily mistake the guy in the street for your next door neighbour. Most citizens love […]

At the turn of the twentieth century, Belfast was a booming industrial port and the biggest city in Ireland. The Titanic was built here, at the Harland and Wolff shipyards, one of the biggest contemporary shipbuilders in the world. Then came two World Wars and the Troubles, bombs and religious conflict that marred the cityscape […]

Lying just a few kilometres from the coast of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago are two islands on the south-eastern edge of the Antilles archipelago. Formerly a Spanish Colony they were British-ruled from 1802 until dependence in 1962. Today they have become one of the most developed Caribbean nations, whilst still retaining strong cultural roots and […]

Good-looking, refined and spectacular in spring, Canberra was little more than an aboriginal meeting point at the turn of the century. It wasn’t the obvious choice for Australia’s federal capital; rather, it was born out of compromise between Melbourne and Sydney. An opportunity to start anew, the city came to embody the hopes and aspirations […]

One of Africa’s most dramatic landscapes, Ethiopia packs in spectacular waterfalls nestled amid lush green forests, Martian deserts strewn with jagged boulders, hot volcanic springs and some of the highest mountains on the continent. It’s sprinkled liberally with a healthy dose of the past, too; the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela are enchanting testaments to Medieval […]

Botswana is one of the most developed and successful nations in Sub-Saharan Africa, and one of striking contrasts; deserts, deltas, salt plains and hundreds of kilometres of rolling safari make it a paradise for budding explorers. It is also one of the safest countries in Africa and a great place to start for first-time visitors […]

It was Francis Scott Key who, upon witnessing the failed bombardment of Baltimore by the British in 1812, composed the poem The Star-Spangled Banner that was later to provide the lyrics for the American national anthem. Baltimore has never forgotten its role in the revolution and sites like Fort McHenry are great places to explore […]

Bulgaria is a country caught in transition, slowly switching its gaze from west to east; hidden behind the Iron Curtain until the late 1980s, it is now one of the newest members of the EU. It is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s premier ski resorts, though Bulgaria’s most attractive feature is probably the Black Sea […]

Sofia is often overlooked by the travellers who go straight for the sand and snow of Bulgaria’s excellent seaside and ski resorts, yet the compact capital boasts two World Heritage sites and remains the cultural heart of the nation. Archaeological evidence suggests there’s been a settlement here for over seven thousand years, making it one […]