Places Michael Ballard Wants to Go

Gladiators battle and chariots race daily in the ruins of a once-great Roman city.

This sixth-century synagogue was first reconstructed digitally, then in real life.

Tens of thousands of rocks make up what is thought to be a giant star calendar.

Bohol's unusually shaped hills turn brown in the summer months.

An eatery in a shallow river where diners can enjoy their meal mere feet from the base of an artificial waterfall.

Hundreds of wooden coffins dangle from cliffs and caves in the Philippines.

Legend has it these caves were created by a deity called Ogba, who is said to live inside the winding subterranean caverns.

The waters of these secluded falls are said to have healing powers.

Two ancient Buddhist temples crown this dramatic rocky pinnacle.

A "miracle" that seems to produce more holy fistfights than holy revelations.

Next to the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office stands this rose-colored mosque.

Extravagant mosque honors modern Islam.

One of the largest caverns in the world has a maw large enough to stack cathedrals in.

These jagged limestone blades cut out through the canopy of the jungles of Borneo.

This simple sailing boat is one of the oldest preserved fishing vessels of its kind in the world.

This rural island is home to the ghost town of what used to be the world’s biggest salt mine.

A spectrum of colors awaits visitors to one of Mexico's most gorgeous bodies of water.

Warm water springs inside an astounding canyon.

Half-hidden by grassy slopes, this striking Spanish colonial fort is now a museum of underwater archaeology.

From Nunavut to Tierra del Fuego, you won't find any lighthouse higher than this one.

This gorgeous stretch of coastline is home to beautiful views and centuries-old rock art.

In the Valley of Morelos lies a mysterious Olmec site with signs of jaguar veneration.

The English graveyard of Mineral del Monte, a magical little piece of Cornwall in Mexico.

This concrete amphitheater offers an unforgettable view of one of Mexico's most beautiful canyons.