John

Thirty-seven miles southwest of Strasbourg, Eguisheim unfolds like a medieval puzzle crafted by master architects. This Alsatian village of 1,800 residents arranges its flower-draped half-timbered houses in three perfect concentric circles around an 11th-century castle. The geometric precision astounds visitors who discover that Disney’s Beauty and the Beast drew inspiration from these very streets. Golden … Lire plus

When Bar Harbor hotel rates hit $325 per night in December, savvy travelers slip 45 miles southwest to Phippsburg. This overlooked Maine coastal town offers Civil War granite fortifications, wood-fired saltwater saunas, and fog-shrouded Atlantic views for half the cost. December brings 300 harbor seals to rocky ledges while tourists stay home. Wood-fired saltwater sauna … Lire plus

Two hours northwest of Las Vegas, where desert silence replaces slot machine noise, stands a house built from 50,000 beer bottles. The structure catches morning light through amber and green glass walls, casting rainbow patterns across Nevada dust. This is Rhyolite, where American gold rush ambition created a metropolis of 8,000 residents, then vanished completely … Lire plus

The ferry from Rhodes approaches Symi’s harbor like a slow reveal of architectural perfection. No cars wait at the dock because none exist on this Greek island 31 miles from Rhodes. What emerges instead is a amphitheater of neoclassical mansions in soft pastels, their 19th-century facades unchanged since sponge diving prosperity ended a century ago. … Lire plus