Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (@ Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg. Courtesy of the City of Paris and the operator of the Eiffel Tower. @ Pierre Bideau for the lighting of the Eiffel Tower)

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (@ Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg. Courtesy of the City of Paris and the operator of the Eiffel Tower. @ Pierre Bideau for the lighting of the Eiffel Tower)

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• “Ooh la la…”""What iron lady is celebrating her birthday?
• Not only did this tower serve as the grand entrance to the 1889 World\s Fair…""It was built to recognize the centennial anniversary of a revolutionary storm
• From virtually everywhere in the city, this unmistakable tower can be seen stretching toward the sky.""Take a tour, she\s a real charmer
• It\s starred in movies, captured the hearts of locals, and enraptured countless sightseers…""Even from above

Dusk at Senganmon on Izu Peninsula, Japan (@ Tommy Tsutsui/Flickr/Getty Images)

Dusk at Senganmon on Izu Peninsula, Japan (@ Tommy Tsutsui/Flickr/Getty Images)

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• If you visit this rock at dusk, you\ll likely experience an exquisite sunset.""But why wait? It\s perfectly divine anytime
• How can this view get any more serene? Try soaking in a local onsen.""So, what\s an onsen?
• Visiting exotic locales like this can be so much more enjoyable when you don\t offend the locals.""Get some tips on regional dos and don\ts
• Travelers yearning for a coastal view can find one at almost every turn…""On this rocky peninsula

Rafflesia flower in West Sumatra, Indonesia (@ Fadil/Corbis)

Rafflesia flower in West Sumatra, Indonesia (@ Fadil/Corbis)

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• This parasitic plant produces a bloom that\s really big and really smelly.""20 pounds of stinky, stinky, stinky…
• If your nickname were “corpse flower,” what\s the worst that could happen?""Well, there\s that whole “flies are drawn to you” thing
• As botanical oddities go, this is just one of many freaky flowers in the world.""Meet the baseball plant, sensitive plant, and our favorite: Doll\s Eyes
• These blooming stinkers are the official state flower of several provinces and states.""But you\ll find this olfactory factory on the “Island of Gold”

Segovia Bridge at night in Madrid, Spain (@ María Galán/age fotostock)

Segovia Bridge at night in Madrid, Spain (@ María Galán/age fotostock)

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• Locals take great pride in their oldest bridge, built in the 1580s.""Even though it was named for another city over 50 miles away
• Townspeople and world travelers have crossed this bridge on foot for over 400 years.""What local “painter of painters” likely crossed the water here as well?
• One resident in this city is as well-known for his looks as he is for his fancy footwork.""Watch this fleet-footed hottie keep it “real”
• From the galleries of the Prado Museum, to the open-air festivals and urban parks…""This Iberian city makes for a capital destination

Cherry blossoms frame the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. (@ Degree/eStock Photo)

Cherry blossoms frame the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. (@ Degree/eStock Photo)

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• These trees have been capital bloomers for some time now.""And this year, we\re celebrating their 100th anniversary
• As a symbol of friendship, Japan gave 2,000 trees to our capital city, but all the trees had to be destroyed.""Thankfully, our friends didn\t take it personally. What happened?
• There\s nothing quite like the sight of this monument accessorized…""With an abundance of blossom-covered boughs
• Although the blossoms are lovely, there\s much more to do in this district than walk around and look at the trees.""We hope you\ve budgeted some time for these sights

Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany (@ E. Teister/Blickwinkel/age fotostock)

Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany (@ E. Teister/Blickwinkel/age fotostock)

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• On average, about 20,000 people visit this soaring cathedral each day.""Crowds like this give “mass” a whole new meaning
• Some say this Gothic treasure stands so tall you can see it from 10 miles away.""So, what\s it look like inside?
• After taking in the dizzying sights here, refuel at the nearby chocolate museum.""Two words: Free samples
• Tourists here might wash down the sauerbraten and dumplings with a light kölsch before they head to the Zülpicher Viertel.""Where will you encounter all these delights and umlauts?

Ice cave on the north side of Mt. Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

Ice cave on the north side of Mt. Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica (@ George Steinmetz/Corbis)

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• Normally, an icy enclave wouldn\t stand a chance sitting atop a boiling lake of molten lava.""But things get pretty cold down here
• Gas and heat from the volcano below melted snowpack to carve out this ice cave.""But what happens when the escaping steam hits the freezing air?
• For decades, scientists in this frozen region have struggled to reach an ancient freshwater lake buried beneath hundreds of feet of ice.""And it looks like the Russians beat us to it
• One recent visitor passed by on a tight schedule and had no time to explore ice caves like this.""She was too busy laying down some serious tracks above

Highland cow on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

Highland cow on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, United Kingdom (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

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• “Hullooo, Hairy! Hullooooo!”""We\re just practicing our cattle calls
• What happens when the cows come home…""Take a look: It\s a real kilt lifter!
• Vikings once raised a ruckus on this island, and by the looks of it…""The local cows may have influenced the design of their head gear
• If you visit this land, chances are good you\ll encounter tartan-clad blokes chatting in an ancient lilting brogue.""They\re just part of the spectacular local color found on the “Misty Isle”

Thunderstorm over the prairie in Montana (@ Artbeats)

Thunderstorm over the prairie in Montana (@ Artbeats)

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• Time to put on your raincoat…""It looks like something fierce is rolling in
• If you find yourself in a storm like this, don\t pick up a wire hanger and start dancing around with your hands in the air.""Instead, follow this expert\s advice
• Why are people around the world excited to talk about the weather today?""And it\s not just the meteorologists
• What kind of sky can support a tempest like this?""One heckuva big sky

Women carrying water jugs near the Taj Mahal in Agra, India (@ Peter Adams/Corbis)

Women carrying water jugs near the Taj Mahal in Agra, India (@ Peter Adams/Corbis)

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• One of the world\s most enduring stories is expressed here…""As a monument to love
• A sacred river flowing just steps away provides drinking water for as many as 57 million people.""But like many rivers in this country, it\s faced with a mounting challenge
• Today is World Water Day, and people around the globe are working to provide safe water supplies for all.""But in the meantime, get a taste of daily life for those without a reliable tap at home
• Although this area is best known for its World Heritage sites…""The city itself is a hub for higher education, commerce, and cultural festivals

Palizzi Superiore in the Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

Palizzi Superiore in the Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

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• Perched above the lights of a small hillside hamlet...""Are the ruins of this medieval castle
• Mountains, fertile land, and a cozy strip of beautiful coastline.""See for yourself why this region has been in hot demand for thousands of years
• If you\ve ever sipped a cup of Earl Grey tea, you\ve already been introduced…""To the local sun-kissed trees
• The distinctive outline of this European country kicks out into the Mediterranean.""And right now, you\re looking at its tippy toe

Crocus blossoms in early spring (@ Don Johnston/age fotostock)

Crocus blossoms in early spring (@ Don Johnston/age fotostock)

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• Love is in the air…""What\s gone and sprung today?
• These colorful harbingers of warmer days…""Can be found popping up all over
• For many around the world, today marks the first day of the new year, a holiday of hope and renewal.""But what\s with the swimming fish, dried olives, vinegar, and other things on their dining tables?
• These flowers have some botanical cousins that are cultivated for their delicate stamens.""Try a pinch for knockout flavor

Aerial view of maturing rice fields, Uruguay (@ Guillermo Robles/Corbis)

Aerial view of maturing rice fields, Uruguay (@ Guillermo Robles/Corbis)

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• What\s green, loves humidity, and grows in marshland?""If you said “Swamp Monster,” you\re only half right
• Rice fields like this are common sights throughout Asia, but you might be surprised to know…""This small southern neighbor is one of the world\s leading producers
• The wafting hardwood smoke and sizzle of grilled meats can mean only one thing down here:""Carnivorous delights of outrageous proportions
• This used to be a sleepy tourist destination, but word\s gotten out in recent years.""Now travelers from other lands are arriving in droves to its major port

Panther chameleon tail, Madagascar (@ Joe McDonald/Corbis)

Panther chameleon tail, Madagascar (@ Joe McDonald/Corbis)

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• If you\re stumped by this nautilus-like coil, step back…""You really need to see what it\s attached to
• This spiral is part of a predator that\s nothing but a cold-blooded licking missile with googly eyes.""Caution: Extreme gross-out in slow-mo
• These changeable characters have been known to inspire singing and dancing.""Do you feel the beat down in your gizzard?
• Although its relatives hang out on branches in many places around the world…""You\ll find this particular species only here

Interior view of the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (@ Chuck Eckert/age fotostock)

Interior view of the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (@ Chuck Eckert/age fotostock)

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• Are we inside a cathedral? The mouth of a whale? Prow of a ship?""Let\s find out before jumping to conclusions
• This postmodern pavilion is sensitive to the sun.""Watch it apply its unique brand of sunscreen
• If you ask this museum\s janitor for directions to the nearest water fountain, he\s not likely to answer you.""It\s hard to get a pulse on the guy
• After strolling through these galleries, take some time to go outside and look around.""We hear there\s a great lake view

Ruby brittle star on coral off the shore of the Cayman Islands (@ Hal Beral/Corbis)

Ruby brittle star on coral off the shore of the Cayman Islands (@ Hal Beral/Corbis)

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• This ruby star tends to avoid his adoring fans.""But the paparazzi are merciless down here
• Dozens and dozens of these stars will overlap arms to form a dense, food-catching web.""Take a look at their grub station: It\s really quite a matrix
• Ooops! When you\re as brittle as this creature, you need a backup system.""That\s when super regeneration powers come in (ahem) handy
• If you happen to find yourself floating around in these parts, don\t feel bad if you never get a glimpse of this shy sea star.""You still have plenty of other options up on dry land

Traditional fishing craft drawn up on the sandy beach of Denpasar, Indonesia (@ Tim Mannakee/Corbis)

Traditional fishing craft drawn up on the sandy beach of Denpasar, Indonesia (@ Tim Mannakee/Corbis)

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• A face is painted on the prow of this handmade fishing boat to bring good luck and to ward off evil spirits.""Whether it works or not, at least it stands out against the competition
• The fishing\s done for the day here…""But there\s still plenty left to do on this sunny beach
• When the sun goes down on this island, local artists bring shadow puppets to life.""Meet one of the masters as he comes out of the shadows
• The most popular time for people to visit this beach scene is from April to October.""You can pack your bags and be here nice and early if you start planning now

Market Square in Old Town, Warsaw, Poland (@ Keren Su/Corbis)

Market Square in Old Town, Warsaw, Poland (@ Keren Su/Corbis)

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• Photos, maps, and memories provided the blueprint for this “old town,” rebuilt brick by brick after World War II.""It\s where everything new is old again
• On any given day, this colorful square bustles with people enjoying the historic atmosphere.""Take a stroll along the cobblestone streets
• A famous scientist once attended a clandestine university here to avoid the attention of the occupying Russian Empire.""She later became the first person to receive two Nobel Prizes
• The history of this city goes way back to the 14th century, when it served as a stop along the river.""And through the bleakest and brightest of times, it\s grown into a thriving capital

Galápagos sea lions rest on Española Island in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador (@ Michio Hoshino/Getty Images)

Galápagos sea lions rest on Española Island in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador (@ Michio Hoshino/Getty Images)

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• Are you feeling groggier than usual after losing an hour of sleep over the weekend?""Who knows, these nappers may be on to something big
• Waves lapping at the beach offer a little white noise to take these guys off to Slumberland.""No wave machine of your own? We suggest you get comfortable before viewing this
• After sunbathing on the beach, it\s time for these sleeping beauties to rinse the sleep out of their eyes with a cool dip in the water.""Or if they\re lucky, to catch some totally tubular wave action
• Although these pinnipeds are related to California seals, they never attend family reunions.""Why travel afar when you have your own sunny island?

The Avenue of the Baobabs in western Madagascar (@ Nigel Pavitt/Corbis)

The Avenue of the Baobabs in western Madagascar (@ Nigel Pavitt/Corbis)

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• According to local legend, these trees were once uprooted and then turned upside-down...""Leaving roots up in the air where limbs should be
• These bulbous trees endure long dry seasons by storing large amounts of water in their trunks.""So enduring a brash, intrepid tree-climber should be a snap
• Keep your head up when walking among the 100-foot tall trees…""You wouldn\t want to get bonked on your noggin
• These ancient trees are their island\s national symbol, as well as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.""Where will you find this grand avenue?

Knysna Loerie in Knysna, South Africa (@ Hoberman Collection/SuperStock)

Knysna Loerie in Knysna, South Africa (@ Hoberman Collection/SuperStock)

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• It\s a rare treat to have this bird pause long enough for a photo shoot.""They don\t call it the go-away-bird for nothing
• Although this lovely bird is a member of the European cuckoo family…""It doesn\t share its relatives\ distinctive call
• This colorful creature makes its home between two capes, in verdant forestland and miles of lush wildlife.""It\s a popular place to go on safari
• Ornithologists up for the challenge of spotting our feathery friend in the forest…""Start planning their trip here

Mexican free-tailed bats in the sky above Austin, Texas (@ imagebroker.net/SuperStock)

Mexican free-tailed bats in the sky above Austin, Texas (@ imagebroker.net/SuperStock)

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• Those dark little specks flying over the bridge are going out to dinner.""On the menu tonight: Up to 30,000 pounds of bugs
• After these “snowbirds” come back here to roost in the summer, they put on a nightly show.""Capturing a cast of 1.5 million takes one heck of a cinematographer
• In 1987, a tiny alternative-music festival set roots here, eventually growing into one of the country\s largest creative events.""You still have time to buy a ticket
• With its backyard Cathedral of Junk, an abundance of Tex-Mex food, live music, and hip art fairs…""This funky Lone Star capital proudly keeps itself weird

Dried casings and seeds of the Chinese lantern plant (@ Skip Moody-Rainbow/Corbis)

Dried casings and seeds of the Chinese lantern plant (@ Skip Moody-Rainbow/Corbis)

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• As these casings dry out, little red lights appear inside.""It\s easy to see how this plant got its nickname
• These botanical beauties are just starting to show…""Their true inner selves
• Herbalists have long used this perennial and its seeds to treat a wide range of maladies, including coughs, fevers, and sore throats.""It also has a green relative who delivers a kick in the kitchen
• The Japanese love these plants so much, they throw a festival for them each year in Tokyo\s oldest temple.""To keep a tradition going for 500 years, this plant must be some party animal

Painted elephant's trunk in Jaipur, India (@ Martin Harvey/Getty Images)

Painted elephant's trunk in Jaipur, India (@ Martin Harvey/Getty Images)

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• Why is this pachyderm all dressed up?""You gotta look good if you\re going to the Elephant Festival
• Painted trunks may be the most popular feature of today\s festival…""But the people can be pretty colorful, too
• Elephants in full regalia make for a great party, but they\re just a precursor…""To a splashier festival that takes place tomorrow
• This dashing elephant is on parade in a place that\s known as the Pink City.""Where is this rosy cultural capital?

Little Tahoma peak in the background with wildflowers in the Upper Paradise Valley of Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington (@ Stephen Matera)

Little Tahoma peak in the background with wildflowers in the Upper Paradise Valley of Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington (@ Stephen Matera)

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• Beyond these flowers is a tall peak known by a diminutive name.""Yet it only looks little compared to its bigger neighbor
• High meadows on this mountainside explode into full bloom sometime in the late summer.""Take a Technicolor tour
• Towering over the region, this massive volcano creates its own storms whenever it pleases.""But these mountaineers still managed to catch a sunrise by climbing up above the clouds
• Where can you visit Paradise?""In a national park that recently celebrated its 113th birthday

Hartford, Connecticut skyline (@ Enzo Figueres/Getty Images)

Hartford, Connecticut skyline (@ Enzo Figueres/Getty Images)

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• Kids here learn how to spell out the river\s multisyllabic name by simply saying “Connect. I. Cut.”""But they\ll need to remember the name of its riverside capital all on their own
• A famous American writer once moved to this town and became so enamored with it that he said…""“You do not know what beauty is if you have not been here”
• What local newspaper once ran an ad to lease George Washington\s Mount Vernon land?""Their tagline is “Older than the nation”
• This riverbank stop is often called the “Insurance Capital of the World.”""And if you devour one of these local specialties, you might need to take out your own policy

A variety of bacteria, yeast, and fungus on a kitchen sponge (@ Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc./Visuals Unlimited, Inc.)

A variety of bacteria, yeast, and fungus on a kitchen sponge (@ Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc./Visuals Unlimited, Inc.)

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• How could something so intricate, vibrant, and beautiful…""Be so yucky?
• Here\s the real dirt on germs: They\re the dominant life form on Earth.""Run! Run for your lives!
• Every day, we subject our bodies to millions of foreign bacterial cells that grossly outnumber our own.""Take a deep breath. The ratio of microbes to human cells is staggering
• If you\re ready to rid your life of evil bacteria, you don\t necessarily need to replace the kitchen sponge.""Check out these home remedies for “cleaning” your cleaning equipment

Karen Ramstead’s sled dog team during the 2005 Iditarod Great Sled Race in Alaska (@ AlaskaStock/Photolibrary)

Karen Ramstead’s sled dog team during the 2005 Iditarod Great Sled Race in Alaska (@ AlaskaStock/Photolibrary)

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• These happy hounds are competing in an event some call the “Last Great Race on Earth.”""It\s a dog\s life for the athletes, but they look up to the task
• What famous sled dog had a statue and a film made in his honor?""Lassie\s got nothing on this guy
• After rigorous training, the dogs are prepared for a grueling race across the frozen tundra.""Can we say the same about their mushers?
• Before they finish their journey, these dogs will cover more than 1,000 miles of jagged mountains, dense forests, and frozen rivers in subzero temperatures.""Where will they finally stop?

Daffodils in front of Cardiff Castle, Wales (@ Exactostock/SuperStock)

Daffodils in front of Cardiff Castle, Wales (@ Exactostock/SuperStock)

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• People around here are wearing daffodils or leeks on their lapels and hats today.""Why the botanical accessories?
• The many medieval castles in this land testify to the centuries-long power struggles here.""But the grand, old stone walls are awfully picturesque today
• This bilingual \"land of song\" has a lovely anthem for its national holiday.""Take a look to see what they\re singing about
• From a bug\s perspective, the flowers are lovely, but you\re missing the full view of this medieval castle.""So then, why not try the birds-eye?