Places SamS Wants to Go

In the town of Åtvidaberg, the midday sun sets off a loud cannon boom.

A striking 12th-century-style castle built on the edge of a cliff.

Explore a uniquely pristine Borneo forest, now protected by former headhunters turned tour guides.

A safari-themed castle in the South African bush with the largest maze in the southern hemisphere.

This otherworldly palace-mausoleum complex is the stuff eternal dreams are made of.

This complex of vertically-excavated Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu monolithic temples in India's Maharashtra providence illustrates a spirit of tolerance characteristic of ancient India.

A mecca for India's Jains.

The central mosque of this Mali town is entirely built from mud.

An emerald-green grotto just a short trip from Austin.

A Prada store in the West Texas desert that is never open for business.

Steep canyon walls hide a forested oasis in the West Texas desert.

Did Inca children also slide down these smooth rocky slopes above Cusco?

Death rituals and sacrifice inside a Peruvian megalith.

Preserved Inca city and site of the last Inca stronghold against the Spanish conquistadors.

More than 100 monumental tombs carved into rock are preserved at this ancient Nabataean site in the Arabian Desert.

At this Minnesota state park you can easily wade across the source of the mighty Mississippi.

This 1,300 year old monastery built atop a single rock was once only accessible depending on the whims of the tide.

Despite centuries of architectural innovation, this French castle is being built like it's the 13th century.

This church sits upon a peaceful hill and a long, turbulent history.

This historic island prison holds one of the dungeons from the Count of Monte Cristo even though it is a work of fiction.

A public park off the beaten path with a beautiful waterfall and 13th century Cistercian abbey.

Sacked by Vikings, blessed by William the Conqueror, dealt a fatal blow during the French Revolution—these ruins have seen it all.

This massive subterranean fissure is known as the "underground Grand Canyon."

Croatia's "hairy stone" fortress is one of the most well preserved Istrian castles.