12 Places Around The World Every Beatles Fan Should Visit

At some point, every Beatles fan must make a pilgrimage to the most famous sites associated with the band. “The Long and Winding Road” begins in Liverpool, England, but it includes destinations in London, India, the United States, and the Netherlands as well. If you love the Beatles, grab your “Ticket to Ride” and get started on this ultimate Beatles bucket list — these are 12 places no true fan should miss.

Liverpool, England

Start your Beatles tour where it all began — in the northwestern English city of Liverpool, a must-visit for any Beatles fan. All four band members were born and raised there, and it’s where the group first met and performed together. Here are some great Beatles spots in the Capital City of Pop, which is a now a UNESCO City of Music.

John Lennon's childhood home. — Wikimedia Commons

1. Birthplaces And Childhood Homes

John Lennon was born at the now-shuttered Liverpool Maternity Hospital on Oxford Street. While the inside can’t be toured, fans can still see the exterior of the abandoned building; it’s right next door to the University of Liverpool. Lennon’s childhood home, however, is available to tour, since it is owned by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty.

George Harrison’s birthplace and childhood home are one and the same — he was born at home at 12 Arnold Grove in Liverpool. Visitors can take pictures of the outside of the home.

Paul McCartney was born at Walton Hospital, since his mother was a maternity nurse there. His childhood home, like Lennon’s, now belongs to the National Trust, so it is available to tour.

Like Harrison, Ringo Starr was born at home, at 9 Madryn Street in Liverpool’s Dingle neighborhood. The home narrowly avoided the wrecking ball in 2012. Fans can only see this residence from the outside, since it is now privately owned.

The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. — Alisia Luther / Shutterstock.com

2. The Cavern Club

Located at 10 Mathew Street in Liverpool, the Cavern Club has been called “the most famous club in the world.” It was at this historic venue that the Beatles performed their first gigs together. The club is open for numerous tours and is also part of the Magical Mystery Tour.

3. Saint Peter’s Church

This South Liverpool Anglican parish played a vital role in the formation of the Beatles. It was at a festival on its grounds that Lennon and McCartney met for the very first time in 1957. Inside the church cemetery, fans can locate the headstone of Eleanor Rigby.

4. Waterfront Statues

The statues of the Fab Four that are situated on Liverpool’s riverfront have been charming visitors since their 2015 installation. According to the Liverpool tourism board, the statues are the most popular selfie spot in town.

The Yellow Submarine hotel. — Uniq Hotels

5. Yellow Submarine

For a quirkier Beatles experience, consider a stay on the Yellow Submarine. It’s docked in the River Mersey in Liverpool and can be booked overnight. The sub is painted like the album cover, so it provides a cool backdrop for photos even if you have other hotel plans. You can find it just off the Royal Albert Dock.

6. The Beatles Story

Another great Liverpool stop for Beatles fanatics is the museum that explores the mythical rise of the band. The exhibit there is the largest Beatles exhibit in the world — it even includes a special section on the group’s historic trip to India in 1968. The Beatles Story is an absolute must for fans.

London, England

Another must-stop spot for Beatles fans is the capital of the UK. Fans will find plenty to love in this area.

Abbey Road in London. — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

7. Abbey Road

Perhaps the most iconic image of the Beatles is on the cover of the album Abbey Road. The image shows the band members striding across the crosswalk near the recording studio of the same name. Nowadays, fans can expect to wait in line to recreate the photo. Visitors should also check out the gate outside the studio — it’s covered in graffiti by other Beatles devotees and features song lyrics and more. Since Abbey Road Studios is still in operation, don’t expect to get inside. However, a small gift shop on the property is home to a variety of Beatles souvenirs and a large wall covered with the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.

8. The British Library

The British Library is the largest library in the UK and houses some really cool Beatles memorabilia. Fans can view napkins with song lyrics on them from the early days when McCartney, Harrison, and Lennon would scribble ideas down on just about anything. There’s even an original Beatles fan club membership card. Admission to the library is free.

New York City, New York, United States

The Lennon memorial at Strawberry Fields, Central Park. — John Zacherle / Shutterstock

9. Strawberry Fields

Located in New York City’s famous Central Park, Strawberry Fields is one of the more somber stops on a Beatles tour. Named for the group’s popular song, this 2.5-acre garden serves as a memorial to Lennon. It is internationally recognized as a garden of peace.

10. The Dakota

Many Beatles lovers will recognize the name of the apartment building that Lennon and Yoko Ono were living in at the time of Lennon’s murder. In fact, Lennon was shot just outside the building in New York City’s Upper West Side. Today, visitors can see the exterior of the building. The Dakota, conveniently located near the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park, can be found at 1 West 72nd Street.

The Beatles Ashram in India. — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY SA 4.0)

Rishikesh, India

11. Chaurasi Kutia Ashram

In 1968, the Fab Four embarked on a meditation-focused trip to an ashram in northern India. The trip sparked international fervor and was widely covered by the press. McCartney and Starr didn’t stay long, but Harrison and Lennon called the ashram home for many weeks. The ashram will eventually be converted into a museum that commemorates the time the band spent there. Until then, fans can hire a local guide to escort them to the property. Inside awaits some beautiful murals and graffiti dedicated to the band. Visitors can also view the meditation huts and infrastructure of the now-unused ashram.

John and Yoko in the Hilton Amsterdam. — Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)

Amsterdam, Netherlands

12. Hilton Amsterdam

This hotel gained international recognition due to a unique 1969 event. That year, following their wedding, Lennon and Ono spent their honeymoon in bed in the hotel to raise awareness for world peace and protest the Vietnam War. It became known as a “bed-in,” similar to the “sit-ins” of the Civil Rights Movement. Visitors can now stay in the same suite the couple did (room 702).

There’s so much around the world for Beatles fans to experience. From the moving memorial in New York to the famous ashram in India, these sites won’t disappoint.

5 Incredible Paris Churches To Visit Besides Notre Dame

The tragic fire at Notre Dame Cathedral has left many travelers reworking their bucket lists. Where else can they go to worship? Where else can they admire beautiful stained glass? Where else can they appreciate Paris’s history, architecture, and art? Fortunately, Paris is absolutely brimming with spectacular houses of worship that inspire travelers. Here are five incredible sites you won’t want to miss.

Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre, Paris. — Francisco Anzola / Flickr

1. Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The Parisian hilltop neighborhood of Montmartre is, in many ways, the Paris of your dreams. There are sweet little cafés on narrow cobblestone streets; there are bohemian artists with charcoal-stained fingers, sketching and scowling with cigarettes hanging from their mouths. Sometimes, though, Montmartre is a bit of a nightmare: The pickpockets are especially agile there! But no matter what, your visit to the area should center on Sacré-Cœur Basilica.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica, is Paris’s most famous house of worship after Notre Dame. It was designed by Paul Abadie; construction began in 1875 and was completed in 1914. The overall style of the structure is Romano-Byzantine, but many visitors say the church most closely resembles a wedding cake! It’s massive, bright white, and lusciously decorated. The basilica’s belfry is notable for being home to the largest bell in all of France (and the fourth-largest bell in Europe).

Visitors eager to see the basilica often miss the meditation garden and fountain that are part of its property. Perhaps that’s not a surprise, since the views of Paris from the steps leading to the basilica are the main draw. For those who don’t mind a bit of a leg workout, the top of the basilica’s dome is open to the public and offers the most spectacular views of all.

The Musée de Montmartre in Paris. — Musée de Montmartre

Practical Matters

Visitors are not permitted to use cameras or video recorders inside the basilica.

Sacré-Cœur is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The dome is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the winter. There are long lines to enter, especially on weekends and around midday. Arrive early, and you might just be alone with the staff and the faithful. General admission is free, but there’s a small fee to visit the dome.

Those Montmartre pickpockets don’t just hang out in the neighborhood — they’re in the church itself. Keep your belongings in a closed crossbody bag, not in an open over-the-shoulder tote bag.

Don’t forget to visit the nearby (and often overlooked) Musée de Montmartre. This 17th-century manor house is the oldest building in the neighborhood!

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. — Luciano Guelfi / Shutterstock

2. Sainte-Chapelle

Few houses of worship have as rich a patrimony as Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité. The stunning chapel was constructed between 1241 and 1248 during the reign of Louis IX, who was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1297; the structure was intended to house Christ’s Crown of Thorns and a piece of the true Cross. Some of the precious relics were destroyed in 1789 during the French Revolution, but Sainte-Chapelle’s exquisite stained glass windows remain intact. Through them, you can get a sense of what life would have been like for early worshippers. The windows tell the stories of the Old and New Testaments as well as the story of the relics.

After being abandoned following the French Revolution, Sainte-Chapelle underwent a 26-year restoration. Even though the chapel isn’t entirely in its original condition, it’s still magnificent, and the Gothic design is still as beautiful as it ever was.

Inside Sante-Chapelle in Paris. — bvi4092 / Shutterstock

Practical Matters

Sainte-Chapelle is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October through March, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April through September.

Admission costs 10 euros for adults, 8 euros for students and seniors, and is free for residents of the European Union under the age of 25.

La Madeleine in Paris. — Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)

3. La Madeleine

L’église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, better known as La Madeleine, looks more like a Roman temple than a Parisian church. In 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned the neoclassical building in the 8th arrondissement as a temple to the glory of his armies; in 1845, the structure was converted to a church dedicated to the life and memory of Mary Magdalene. Before 1806, the property was the site of several churches, including one demolished in 1799 that marked the original burial spot of Louis XVI. Legislation passed during the French Revolution forbade him from being buried next to the remains of his father in order to minimize pilgrimages by royalists.

Inside, the structure, with its three domes and lavishly gilded decor, resembles an opulent Roman bath. There are columns, sculptures, and paintings in abundance. It’s a building unlike any other in Paris.

Practical Matters

La Madeleine is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. During Mass and religious services, touring is prohibited, though guests are welcome to worship with the congregation. Admission is free, and the church often hosts free organ recitals.

La Madeleine is also home to a secret restaurant that’s one of the best bargains in Paris. In the basement of the church is Foyer de la Madeleine, which is open on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. except on holidays, school vacations, and during the month of August. For a yearly subscription fee of 5 euros you can purchase a three-course French meal for 8.50 euros. Works by local artists decorate the walls, and you can get some of Paris’s cheapest espresso in the lounge — just 80 centimes!

Saint-Germain-Des-Prés in Paris. — dany13 / Shutterstock

4. Saint-Germain-Des-Prés

In the heart of Paris’s most creative neighborhood, where artists and writers generate the most modern ideas, lies the oldest church in the city, Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Construction started in A.D. 543 (yes, you read that correctly!). Originally a royal abbey devoted to the Holy Cross, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 10th century, making it one of the first Gothic churches in the world. The rebuild was necessary following a conflict with Vikings that left the original church severely damaged. After the French Revolution, all abbeys were closed, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés served as a factory until it reopened as a church in 1803. It’s hard to imagine a house of worship more steeped in history — if only the walls could talk!

Inside Sant-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. — dany13 / Shutterstock

Practical Matters

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Admission is free.

5. Panthéon

The Panthéon of Paris has the distinction of having once been a church — and a very influential one at that — but today it is a secular mausoleum where several important citizens are buried.

Originally a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve (who was buried on the land where the church now stands), the Panthéon was constructed in 508 under the direction of Clovis, King of the Franks. During the Middle Ages, it was a site of religious scholarship, but by the mid-1700s, it had fallen into serious disrepair. King Louis XV decided to replace the older building with a grand new structure more suitable to house the relics of the patroness of Paris. Monumental events stalled the project again and again, the most significant being the outbreak of the French Revolution, when the Panthéon was converted to a temple to liberty. Voltaire’s ashes were interred there in 1791, and a number of French heroes soon followed, including Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Pierre and Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas, and Louis Braille. While technically no longer a church, the atmosphere remains similar to that of a church. Keep an eye out for Foucault’s pendulum, first installed in 1851, removed, and then reinstalled in 1995.

Panoramic view of the Foucault pendulum, Panthéon mausoleum. — H-AB Photography / Shutterstock.com

Practical Matters

The Panthéon of Paris is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Admission costs 9 euros for adults, 7 euros for students, and is free for residents of the European Union under the age of 25.

Expect a security check upon entry. All bags are checked, and large luggage is not allowed.

8 Beautiful Smoky Mountain Hiking Trails

Are you aching to take to the great outdoors and blaze the trails on a mountain adventure? While the U.S. has several wonderful mountain ranges to choose from, one of the best hiking adventures you can ever experience is in the Great Smoky Mountains.

It is an indisputable fact that the Great Smoky Mountains — also known as the Smoky Mountains or the Smokies — is one of the most magnificent and beautiful natural regions in North America.

Rising along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, the Smoky Mountains are home to over 522,427 acres of forest lands, divided almost evenly between North Carolina and Tennessee.

The Smoky Mountains are also among the oldest mountain ranges in the world and are the base for a nationally renowned U.S. treasure: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With its exceptional beauty and rich forest growth, the Smoky Mountains are home to a diversity of wildlife and over 1,500 flowering plant species. With over 800 miles of hiking trails, it’s no wonder why the Smoky Mountains are widely regarded as one of the top hiking destinations in the country.

We’ve identified the best and most beautiful Smoky Mountain hiking trails for your once-in-a-lifetime hiking experience. We’ve asked hikers and vacationers to share their thoughts on their favorite trails and why you should hike them, too. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open to hikers and campers all year round, so grab your National Parks Senior Pass, stuff your backpack with your best hiking gear, and plan your next vacation to the Smoky Mountains.

The Alum Cave Trail in the Smoky Mountains. — Theron Stripling III / Shutterstock

1. Alum Cave Trail

Trail Round Trip Length: 4.4 Miles
Trail Location: Newfound Gap Road
Trail Difficulty: Moderate

If you are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime hiking experience, then we recommend starting your Smoky Mountain hiking adventure with the Alum Cave Trail. Only moderately challenging in its trail difficulty, this loop trail is a little over four miles long and grants hikers access to breathtaking views as little as two miles in. One of the scenic wonderments is the Alum Cave itself, which is less of a cave and more beautiful, concave bluff. Standing at about 80 feet in height and over 500 feet wide, you’re bound to take in the beauty of ancient forest growth as far as the eye can see. Keep hiking a little further, and you’ll reach what hikers call Inspiration Point. At a staggering 4,700 feet high, hikers who make the climb are rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the mountains.

The Rainbow Falls Trail in the Smoky Mountains. — Francisco Blanco / Shutterstock

2. Rainbow Falls Trail

Trail Round Trip Length: 5.4 Miles
Trail Location: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
Trail Difficulty: Moderate

There’s a saying, The best view comes after the hardest climb. No truer words have been spoken regarding the Rainbow Falls Trail. While this hike takes three to five hours to complete, it is also regarded as one of the most scenic and beautiful trails in the Smoky Mountains. So aptly named, this trail contains one of the most stunning natural rapids in the entire park. Measured at 80 feet, the waterfall is the tallest single-drop waterfall in the park. According to SmokyMountain.com’s local expert team, the waterfall drops “dramatically over a jutting cliff face and then [rushes] over rock formations at the cliff’s base.” Be forewarned, this hike is not for the faint of heart. However, hikers who are up to the task of following forest paths will find themselves rewarded with plenty of sites to take a break and enjoy a picnic at the base of the mountains.

Abrams Falls Trail in the Smoky Mountains. — Ethan Quin / Shutterstock

3. Abrams Falls Trail

Trail Round Trip Length: 5.2 Miles
Trail Location: Cades Cove
Trail Difficulty: Moderate

Summon your inner daredevil and prepare to embark on one of the most challenging and yet stunningly beautiful hikes on our list. In 2008, Abrams Falls Trail was ranked among the most dangerous trails in North America. Located in Cades Cove, this notorious hiking trail follows a picturesque creek leading to the 20-foot Abrams Falls waterfall. Hikers will see a large, natural pool surrounded by a beautiful beach. However, hikers and swimmers beware. Those who aren’t adequately prepared have experienced altitude sickness and been caught between downed trees. However, if you’re proactive and wise about trail safety, you’ll find the most impressive geological gems and be greeted by a diversity of forest wildlife along the way. The price of a difficult hike is high, but the rewards are beyond great.

Charlies Bunion Trail in the Smoky Mountains. — ModernNomads / Shutterstock

4. Charlies Bunion Trail

Trail Round Trip Length: 8.1 Miles
Trail Location: Newfound Gap
Trail Difficulty: Difficult

A mountain hike isn’t truly a mountain hike without jagged, rough terrain and the sound of rocks crunching beneath your feet. No need to venture out toward the Rockies to find such terrain; you just need to hike the Charlies Bunion Trail. With elevations hovering around 6,000 feet along a narrow ledge, hikers are bound to see gorgeous Appalachian Mountain views from both sides of the trail. The trail was named after Charlie Conner, one of the early advocates of the national park, who, when hiking one day, removed his shoe and exposed a bunion on his foot that resembled the surrounding rocks. His friend promised him that he would put his name and his bunion on a government map. Eventually, the trail was named after the man whose bunion survived the rock outcropping of the Smoky Mountains.

Fighting Creek Nature Trail in the Smoky Mountains. — Smoky Mountains

5. Fighting Creek Nature Trail

Trail Round Trip Length: 1.2 Miles
Trail Location: Great Smoky Mountain National Park Visitor Center
Trail Difficulty: Easy

With so many hikes to choose from, it can be difficult settling for just one. However, if you’re looking for a hike that’s fairly easy and accessible for all members of the family, then look no further than Fighting Creek Nature Trail. Perfect for those with children in tow or have limited mobility, this wonderfully scenic trail proceeds along a gentle grade. Hikers will get a chance to see a wild mix of trees — including hickories, butternut, sweet birch, and pine — and evidence of early mountain settlers all leading up to a clearing that’s home to one of the park’s historical showpieces: the John Ownby Cabin. Hikers are allowed to tour the cabin, admiring its craftsmanship while breathing in the air from the windswept pines.

6. Beacon Heights Asheville Trail

Trail Round Trip Length: 0.8 Miles
Trail Location: Blue Ridge Parkway
Trail Difficulty: Moderate

A journey to the Blue Ridge Parkway offers spectacular views of the southern ridge of the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Closer to North Carolina, these blue-misted mountains are full of scenic beauty such as cascading waterfalls, rolling pastures, and gorges banked with beautiful wildflowers. One trail that’s definitely worth a hike for you and your family is the Beacon Heights Asheville Trail.

Erin Clarkson, a travel writer, blogger, and photographer, told TravelAwaits, “My family really enjoys hiking the Beacon Heights Overlook Trail along North Carolina’s famous Blue Ridge Parkway. The trail is slightly less than one mile, but it’s just steep enough to get your heart pumping! It’s well-marked, and there are flat step-like rocks in many areas which make it easier to traverse.”

She went on to say, “The trail winds through a fairly heavily wooded area that looks particularly beautiful during the fall season as the leaves are changing colors. At the top of the trail, you’ll find multiple flat rocky platform areas with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains that stretch for miles on end! The view is breathtaking! It’s easily one of our favorite spots for picnicking while enjoying the fall colors.”

Clarkson said, “If you’re traveling with someone who finds it difficult to climb, the adjoining Mountains to Sea Trail is flatter and winds through the lower wooded valley area. You’ll find parking for both trails near the trailhead, which is directly off the main road.”

7. Boogerman Trail In Cataloochee Valley

Trail Round Trip Length: 7.4 Miles
Trail Location: Cove Creek Road
Trail Difficulty: Moderate To Difficult

If you’re the type of hiker who prefers fewer people and less disrupted nature, then you’re going to fall in love with the Cataloochee Valley. The valley is one of the most remote parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but it’s rich in mountain beauty and natural history. The valley is home to many wildlife species including elk, white-tailed deer, and black bears, and boasts plenty of hiking trails, including the Boogerman Trail. If a beautiful forest hike where you will see a diversity of plant life and hear the sound of gushing creeks flowing beneath a canopy of trees speaks to you, then you are going to love this trail.

Joanna Scott, a representative of Visit NC Smokies, told TravelAwaits that the Cataloochee Valley is “the birthplace of a reintroduced elk population, which roams free. With several hiking trails, streams for fishing, and preserved buildings from the early 1900s, there is plenty to explore in Cataloochee Valley. For those interested in a moderate hike, Little Cataloochee Church Hike features cabins, cemeteries, wildflowers, and offers a good chance to see elk in the fields.” Don’t leave the Smoky Mountain region without visiting this hidden mountain gem.

Gregory Bald Trail in the Smoky Mountains. — Melinda Fawver / Shutterstock

8. Gregory Bald Trail

Trail Round Trip Length: 11.3 Miles
Trail Location: Cades Cove
Trail Difficulty: Strenuous

Last but certainly not least, Gregory Bald Trail. This trail has been crowned for having stunning views all year-round. It’s perhaps most famous for the spectacular flame azaleas that bloom on its summit. It’s like a secret garden, and hikers from all over the world come in early summer to stand in awe of one of the finest displays of flame azaleas in the world. Allow your eyes to gaze at an arresting mix of fire red, orange, salmon, yellow, white, and pink azaleas nestled together at the end of the hike. Can’t make it in June? Not to fret. With breathtaking views of Cades Cove and Fontana Lake, there’s an abundance of scenic wonderment in store, making this trail a wise choice year-round.

Chocolate Travel Will Tantalize More Than Your Taste Buds

You’ve no doubt heard of (and perhaps experienced) wine, culinary, sport, music, or various other niche types of travel. But have you ever considered chocolate travel?

When we mention chocolate travel, we’re not just talking about eating chocolate when you travel. We’re talking about visiting places where cacao (cocoa) is grown, meeting cacao farmers, chocolate makers, and chocolatiers, and learning something about their craft. Chocolate travel means indulging in cocoa cuisine, attending chocolate events and festivals (the Grenada Chocolate Fest is outstanding), and visiting chocolate attractions and museums (Hershey, Pennsylvania, is the ultimate North American chocolate destination with a chocolate theme park, chocolate museum, chocolate hotel, and even a chocolate spa!).

Here’s why chocolate travel belongs on your bucket list.

A woman at a chocolate spa. — Pure Jungle Spa

Chocolate Spas Will Transport You To Another Place

Did we say chocolate spa? You bet! There are an increasing number of spas worldwide offering edible chocolate facials, cocoa-based massages and pedicures, and even full-body chocolate wraps that transport your spirit to another dimension. That’s because Theobroma cacao (the technical name for the raw product that is processed to become chocolate) releases endorphins and cannabinoid receptors into our bodies to give us a natural high. As the theobromine is absorbed into our bodies, we experience a natural euphoria that’s known to bring some of us pure joy.

Try to find out the purity of the body rub at a spa you may be visiting. If it is nearly 100 percent pure cocoa powder and cocoa butter — as is used at the Pure Jungle Spa in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica — you’re getting the real thing. If cocoa is way down on the list of ingredients, the effect is far less likely to be incredible, but you’re still likely to enjoy your spa experience.

A man helping to harvest cacao pods. — ChocoMe Chocolate of Hungary

You’ll Get To The Source

Visiting places like Costa Rica and other Central American countries, the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Africa, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia to see how their cacao is grown, harvested, and processed is another terrific way to engage in chocolate travel. Some destinations like Grenada and St. Lucia make an industry of chocolate tourism, offering travelers the opportunity to visit cacao farms (where they can participate in the harvesting of cacao pods or graft a cacao seedling), sample cuisine that features cacao in savory or traditional recipes, try their hand at grinding roasted cocoa beans and make it into stone-ground chocolate bars, and learn how cacao has impacted the country’s history, economy, and culture. Look for cacao-growing countries 20 degrees north and south of the Equator.

You’ll Learn The Difference Between Cacao-Producing Countries That Make Chocolate And Those That Import Cocoa

We’ve all grown up eating and loving European chocolate from countries like Belgium, France, Switzerland, Holland, and Germany. Many people say Belgian chocolate is the best. Many say Swiss chocolate is the best. But once you engage in chocolate travel, you learn that there is no such thing as Belgian or Swiss chocolate. There is only Belgian-made chocolate or Swiss-made chocolate, as no country in Europe actually grows cacao. Most European chocolate is made from cocoa grown in West Africa, as the Ivory Coast and Ghana produce close to 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, which is then shipped to Europe for distribution. We have the Europeans to thank for creating contemporary chocolate, as it is said that explorer Hernan Cortes first brought cocoa beans to Spain by ship back in the early 16th century. There, confectioners added spices such as vanilla and cinnamon to cocoa to mitigate the bitterness of the pure beans. Chocolate as we know it began to evolve.

It is only in the past two decades that cacao-growing countries began making chocolate from their cocoa beans rather than exporting nearly all of them. Today, you can taste true jungle chocolate in places like Peru and Mexico where the chocolate is made using exclusively indigenous flavorings such as passionfruit, mango, tequila, figs, and nuts. Of course, little of this magnificent chocolate is exported, as fresh chocolate truffles and bonbons don’t travel well. So you have to go to the source to get it, and what a delicious journey that can be.

A farmer holding cacao beans. — dghchocolatier / Pixabay

Your Chocolate Travels Can Help Change Lives

As cacao is most often grown in under-developed countries, your tourism dollars can help the local economies and families involved in the farming and processing of the cocoa. You can take tours to cacao farms in many cacao-growing countries. In some countries, you can engage in voluntourism activities in which you’ll visit cocoa cooperatives to help process the cocoa and make chocolate from it.

However you get your chocolate fix, It’s important to understand some of the terminology that will help you make better chocolate purchases at home and abroad. We’ve all heard of the term fair trade, and many of us have already have altered our buying habits to ensure we are purchasing fair trade products sourced from farmers and makers who are paid fairly for their labor. But there is another term that is also very important to look for when committing to making ethical purchases, chocolate and otherwise. Look for products that are designated sustainable. When it comes to chocolate, sustainable products are sourced such that farming families, the environment, and every part of the food chain are taken into consideration to ensure we will have delicious chocolate to enjoy for years to come.

Ready to begin your chocolate travels? Budapest’s hidden chocolate museum could be the perfect place to start.

About The Author

Doreen Pendgracs has been a freelance travel writer since 1997. She specializes in soft adventure and boomer travel and is a leader in the emerging niche of chocolate travel. Doreen has been researching chocolate and cacao through 20 countries over the past 10 years and has authored an award-winning book about chocolate travel. She has a vibrant blog, Chocolatour, where you can connect with her on various social media platforms. Doreen also writes freelance articles for various publications that include National Geographic Traveler. Doreen curates chocolate and wine pairing events and has been a speaker, guest, and judge at numerous chocolate events around the world. Join Doreen on a small group she has curated to Costa Rica in collaboration with EF Go Ahead Tours. Information on the upcoming tour is available here.

11 Colorful Sand Beaches You Have To See To Believe

Summer is a perfect time to unwind on a sunny beach with clear waters. However, beaches can become a bore — if you’ve been to one, it may seem like you’ve been to them all. Perhaps you love swimming in the crystal waters or laying out on the lush sands, but you’re just tired of the norm. Well, we’ve made a list of beaches that are anything but common. On these beaches, you can walk around on soft sand as you would on any other beach, but there’s a twist — it’s colored!

1. Santorini Beach

Red Sand Beach In Santorini, Greece

The Santorini Red Sand Beach located in Greece is known for its dominant red sand. Reaching the beach isn’t the easiest, however; you either have to walk on a downhill path or arrive by boat. It’s best to practice precaution when reaching the beach because the area is known for landslides. Once you make it past the hard part, though, the beach is perfect for snapping a few pictures and viewing the “steep red hills that create a captivating, wild scenery,” according to Santorini View.

2. Kaihalulu Beach

Red Sand Beach In Hana, Maui

Located in the middle of Hana, a town on the east coast of Maui, is Kaihalulu or Red Sand Beach. Reaching this beach also involves walking a dangerous and steep path, so it doesn’t get a ton of visitors. That said, if you’re looking for an isolated beach to escape to, this will be the perfect place for you.

Green Sand Beach in Hawaii. — iDiscoverer / Shutterstock

3. Papakolea Beach

Green Sand Beach In The Kau District Of Hawaii

This beach’s sand gets its green shade from the semiprecious olivine stone that gets deposited on the sand by the ocean’s waves. Keeping with the trend of secluded colored sand beaches, Papakolea is located within a bowl-shaped geological formation. In order to get to it, you have no choice but to climb down the bowl. This is a risky choice, but according to GoUS Hawaii, it’s worth the trip.

4. Horseshoe Bay Beach

Pink Sand Beach In Bermuda

This pink beach gets its name from its curved shape. The pink sand, however, is the result of crushed coral and calcium carbonate mixing together in the sand. Luckily, this beach is less of a danger to get to than the previous beaches. In fact, anyone can easily reach it by public transportation.

Black Sand Beach in Iceland. — Peter Daniel / Flickr

5. Reynisfjara Beach

Black Sand Beach On The South Coast Of Iceland

This non-tropical beach in Iceland gets its impressive black sand from eroded volcanic rocks. According to Arctic Adventures, the beach has appeared on at least one top 10 list of most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. When visiting this stunning beach, it is recommended not to stand too close to the water — the waves are extremely powerful and can be harmful. Enjoy the surf crashing on the black sand from a safe distance!

Orange Sand Beach in Malta. — Ildiko Szabo / Shutterstock

6. Ramla Bay

Orange Sand Beach On Gozo Island In Malta

This burnt red-orange beach in Malta is not a traditional red-sand beach at all. It’s actually a bright orange with red undertones that lead to it being categorized as a red beach. The beach is so stunning that it was featured in Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of seven most beautiful red sand beaches according to the Malta Independent.

Black Sand Beach in Hawaii. — Alexander Demyanenko / Shutterstock

7. Punalu’u Beach

Black Sand Beach Between Pahala And Na’alehu, Hawaii

Punalu’u Beach is one of the most famous black sand beaches in Hawaii — possibly because of the endangered Hawksbill turtles and green turtles that live on its sands. The sand here gets its black color from volcanic lava fragments. If you look closely, you might see some larger fragments that are still recognizable as coming from an old lava flow.

Pink Sands Beach in the Bahamas. — finepic / Shutterstock

8. Pink Sands Beach

Harbour Island, Bahamas

By catching a ferry, you can travel relatively easily to this smaller island in the Bahamas, which is home to a beautiful pink sand beach. The sand here gets its pink color from a marine animal, the foraminifera, and its red shell mixing with the white sand. If you’re feeling adventurous during your time in the Bahamas, this is definitely a beach you should make some time to visit.

Black Sand Beach in New Zealand. — gracethang2 / Shutterstock

9. Muriwai Beach

Black Sand Sparkling Beach In Auckland, New Zealand

This sparkling black beach gets its color from its iron sand, which contains a mixture of minerals originating from volcanic materials. The sand is so firm that it has actually been designated as a highway where vehicles can drive straight to the ocean’s edge — just be mindful of a few spots of quicksand as you enjoy your walk by the water.

Purple Sand Beach in California. — Maddy M / Shutterstock

10. Pfeiffer Beach

Purple Sand Beach In Big Sur, California

The purple hues that define the sand of this beach are a result of highly concentrated garnet. The colored sand on this beach isn’t as vibrant as some others on this list as the whole beach isn’t purple. Instead, there are some areas of sand that have a more purple tint than others.

Sea Glass Beach in California. — Pi-Lens / Shutterstock

11. Glass Beach

Sea Glass Beach In Fort Bragg, California

This beach takes us in a bit of a different direction. The colorful grounds of this beach aren’t the result of a chemical reaction in the sand, but instead the presence of colorful aged sea glass. Due to a devastating earthquake in the area in 1906, glass remnants swept into the ocean, only to eventually wash back to shore — now in their tumbled, sea-glass forms. For an in-depth explanation of this uniquely stunning beach, check out the top 10 things to know about visiting California’s Glass Beach.

Whichever beach you set your sights on, imagine escaping to these beautifully colored sands and shores for a vacation you’ll never forget. Transcend the typical and put one of these colorful beaches on your travel list!

Inside Sedlec Ossuary: The Czech Church Of Bones

If you have a fascination with the macabre, death in any form, or just unique and weird places of worship, the Sedlec Ossuary is your ticket. The cathedral in the heart of Bohemia, in the town of Kutna Hora, Czech Republic, has been around since medieval times.

On the outside, the chapel is ordinary looking — for an ancient church, at least. When you step inside, you’ll feel the same. It’s a pretty, gothic church that the average tourist might stumble upon wandering through the suburb.

But after you pay your $5.35 entry fee, you can explore the cathedral — where Catholic mass is still held — or wander down a small staircase.

Staircase leading down to the Church of Bones. — Sergey Kohl / Shutterstock

Welcome To The Church Of Bones

As you enter the chapel, you’ll see what you could expect an ossuary to hold — more than 40,000 human skeletons. But you probably wouldn’t expect them to be arranged as they are in this room.

In 1278, the King of Bohemia commissioned the Abbot of Sedlec, a Cistercian monk, to journey to Jerusalem. When the monk returned, he carried a jar of soil from the Holy Land with him. Specifically, the soil was from the location known as Golgotha — the place of the skull, where Jesus Christ was crucified — which attracted locals from Sedlec and surrounding areas to the idea of being buried in the location where the abbot sprinkled the holy soil.

An arragement of bones in the Sedlec Ossuary. — Anna Minsk / Shutterstock

During the 15th century, the gothic church was constructed with an upper chapel and lower chapel, designed to serve as the ossuary for the mass graves exhumed during its construction. The bones were stacked in the ossuary where they remained unattended for centuries.

Finally, in 1870, a local artisan — a woodcarver named Frantisek Rint — was appointed to place the bones in a decent order that would call to heart and mind religious ceremony and reverence. Piles of skulls were fashioned into a chandelier and archways. The femurs and other long bones from thousands of skeletons were formed into religious and monarchical symbols.

The chandelier in the Sedlec Ossuary. — Mikhail Markovskiy / Shutterstock

Beyond the chandelier, which makes use of nearly every bone in the human body, the ossuary displays four baroque bone candelabras, six giant bone pyramids, two large bone chalices, two bone monstrances — vessels used to display the Eucharist host — and skull candle holders. Chains of bone also drape their way across the ceiling and between pillars throughout the chapel.

Mass is held within the bone chapel as well, and many consider the moments in this unique setting peaceful and inspiring rather than dark or macabre.

Rint signed his work in the ossuary with a collection of bones, depicting his name and the year he finished the work.

Inside the Church of Bones. — Grisha Bruev / Shutterstock

You can visit the cathedral and ossuary any time of year. Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. year-round, but note that hours on other days of the week vary by season:

November through February, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
March, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
April through September, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ossuary is open every day except Christmas Eve.

The cathedral and ossuary are located in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutna Hora, which is just one hour away from Prague in the Czech Republic. Trains run hourly from Prague to Kutna Hora, costing between $3 and $6 on average. A 14- to 20-minute walk will take you from the train station to the ossuary and cathedral. You can also journey to Sedlec from Prague via bus, cab, Uber, or rental car. Technically, there’s a bus as well, but most people prefer the train or private car options as they cut down on transit time. All routes — save the bus, which takes an hour and 40 minutes or more — take approximately one hour.

Headed to the Czech Republic? Don’t miss Prague’s hidden gems or these nine weird things to do in the city.