Oklahoma City stands at the crossroads of Western tradition and modern energy. It’s a place where cowboy boots walk into sleek coffee shops, and horse shows take place just a few miles from contemporary art galleries. A good starting point is the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, home to one of the largest collections of Western art and artifacts in the world.

Tonga is distinctly different to its neighboring island nations. This Polynesian kingdom, made up of 170 islands, carries a proud history that dates back over 3,000 years. On the main island of Tongatapu, travelers can explore ancient stone structures like the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui Trilithon—sometimes called the Stonehenge of the Pacific. Royal tombs in Lapaha offer a glimpse into the lineage of Tonga’s kings, while village life remains guided by customs that have changed little over centuries.

Taranto is a coastal city in Puglia known as the “City of Two Seas,” positioned between the open Mar Grande and the sheltered Mar Piccolo. Its location has shaped a strong maritime identity, with fishing, mussel farming, and naval activity remaining important parts of local life. The historic center occupies an island connected to the newer city by the Ponte Girevole, while the waterfront extends around the two bodies of water.

Badlands National Park stretches across southwestern South Dakota, where layered rock formations and sharply eroded spires reveal nearly 75 million years of geological history. The park’s banded cliffs and pinnacles were shaped by wind and water, exposing ancient seabeds and fossil-rich layers that have made the area one of North America’s most important paleontological sites.

Fiji, a tropical haven in the heart of the South Pacific, is made up of over 330 islands, each with its own distinct character. The islands boast lush rainforests, soaring mountains, and white sandy beaches, offering a wide range of activities, from kayaking through calm lagoons and paddleboarding along scenic coastlines to zip-lining through lush rainforests and hiking across mountainous terrain.