Stephanie Vermillion

While most travelers flock to Iceland’s Golden Circle or main city, Reykjavik, one of the best places Iceland experiences requires a road trip up north to the quiet town of Akureyri. Myvatn is one of Iceland’s most magical hidden gems; it’s absolutely worth a day trip on your visit to Akureyri. From the steam rising over the turquoise water to the waterfalls and mountain views, it’s hard to take a bad photo in the Myvatn Nature Baths, particularly if you visit at sunset. If you’re navigating Iceland on the road, check out my list of Iceland road trip essentials!

From traditional cuisine to an artsy republic independent from the city, here are seven things to do when visiting Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city. My family and I took a “roots” trip to Lithuania, stopping in Kaunas (my grandmother’s hometown) and Vilnius, where my grandpa spent his young-adult, pre-war years. And when I say grew up on, I mean I actually grew up on it Trakai, just 25 minutes driving from Vilnius, is a peaceful yet historic getaway from Lithuania’s capital city.

As South Africa’s second oldest wine region, Stellenbosch is filled with vineyard accommodations, but one that rose to the top for us was Spier Wine Farm. ’s chandelier; in the farm’s eco-friendly fashion, it’s made from 334 recycled wine bottles! ) Spier’s diverse assortment of restaurants includes the eco-friendly and organic Eight Restaurant, the riverside hotel restaurant, scenic picnics, and the Vadas Smokehouse, which specializes in low-and-slow cooked meat and delicious, freshly baked bread. The hotel is like its own little village IMHO, a trip to Spier Wine Farm is hardly complete without an overnight in the colorful hotel.

If you’re wondering where to see wildlife in South Africa, look no further than Inverdoorn Game Reserve and its private Kuganha camp. Kuganha Private Camp, an upscale extension of South Africa’s Inverdoorn Game Reserve, had us smack dab in the middle of the wildlife action, with elephants visiting our pool and giraffes snacking along our driveway. (Although I’m open to trying more to find out…) If you’re considering a game reserve to visit during your time in South Africa, here are five reasons to consider Kuganha: Inverdoorn Game Reserve offers more than a cool safari camp; they put revenue toward the reserve’s rescued animals. From lions rescued at caged-hunting facilities (where people “hunt” lions in cages, and pretend they shot the animals in the wild—gross on so many fronts) to elephants rescued from riding camps and circuses, Inverdoorn gives animals in-need a new shot at freedom in its expansive reserve.