Tank traps and landmines in the morning, meditation on a hilltop in the evening, and shopping at midnight. Seoul is a genuine, often overlooked Asian supercity and easily worth two weeks’ stay.

The Göta Älv river runs through Gothenburg and provides some varied walks and a splendid, almost free, ferry ride along its banks.

When I mentioned I’d be heading for Phoenix, Arizona, the first thing they said was “bring a car”. Now this one I’d heard before. Often from Americans, often from Australians. But everywhere I’ve ever been, I’ve managed just fine without a driver’s license (and consequently, without a car). Had I finally met my match in [...]

For a weekend city trip in Europe, you can hardly find anything more scenic than Geneva. It’s so close to the French border you can feel it. Especially if you step over it.

Belgium is a small country. Go see it by train! But if you don’t speak French, stick to Flanders, the northern half, for picturesque medieval cities, diamonds, and beach resots.

We all know they have the fjords and the mountains and the bungee. But they also have rainforests right next to the ski resorts. They have corals, they have penguins. And my personal favorite, they have alpine parrots. New Zealand’s South Island has all those things you didn’t know you wanted.

You say resort, and I think of beaches, pools, Swedish restaurants in Spain, Finnish bars In Turkey, and hotel after hotel after hotel. I certainly didn’t think of serene mountain scenery, cool crisp air, and adventure sports where half the experience is the nature around you. After my visit to Queenstown on New Zealand’s South [...]

There are only two reasons to go to Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Government business is one. Floriade, the annual month-long flower festival, is the other. Hoping for anything else is asking for disappointment, they told me. Were they right?

What can a train ride between Sydney and Canberra teach us about Australia? That it’s big. And that everybody gets a fair go. Even intravenous drug users and wallabies.

The great country of Canada is best seen in regional chunks. Visit Montreal’s botanical gardens, Toronto’s underground shopping malls, and the Niagara Falls in a relaxed week of travel.