National Geographic - Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the Worlds Most Amazing Places

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eBook ISBN: 978-1-4262-1617-6
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4262-1564-3

v3.1

Soaring arboresque columns grace Sagrada Famlia, Barcelona, Spain.

CONTENTS

The Wild Side of Awesome

Humankinds Ageless Handiwork

Where Land and Water Magically Merge

On Top of the World

Culture and Countryside Combined

FOREWORD

by Dan Westergren, Director of Photography , National Geographic Traveler magazine

A place so windy, theyve had to chain the buildings down to the rocks. This was the reason I first visited New Hampshires Mount Washington. I wanted to see buildings with leashes. And when would be the best time to visit the windiest place on the planet? In the middle of winter, of course, when the 80-mile-an-hour winds canliterallyblow you away. There was something about the raw extremes on what felt like the top of the world that jolted me to the core. I felt alive!

This book is full of such places of inspiration. Youll discover superlative iconic spots, places so amazing that all you can do is stand there in openmouthed wonder at the sheer beauty of it all. Take, for example, the plunging cascade of Earths highest waterfall at Venezuelas Angel Falls; the swirling, multihued rock faces at Arizonas Antelope Canyon; and Namibias Sossusvlei sand dunes, with giant sand hills as tall as 100-story skyscrapers.

Other destinations are participatory, enticing you to explore. You need to climb the step pyramids poking above the tree lines in the ancient Maya city of Cob; paddle the interlocking lakes, canals, and quiet rivers of Kerala, India; or taste the just-caught lobster at a Prince Edward Island community supper in the Canadian Maritimes to discover the soul of these amazing places and make yourself part of their ongoing story.

National Geographic photographers personally chose a selection of the destinations. These individuals are experience collectors. Their job is to dig beneath the iconic and find the true essence of a place. Then, if theyre lucky, theyll be able to bring back a photograph and an experience at the same time. In this collection, youll see these images and hear how they made these favorite destinations their own.

I have been back to Mount Washington. This time, on one of the most beautiful summer days imaginable. I was glad to be therethe views stretched for miles, and a cool breeze tempered the midday sun. But I kept thinking about what it was like the last time I had visited. On one of the most miserable days of my life, when I was cold, wet, and tired. When I was thinking that maybe I needed to be chained to the rocks. But it was a REAL day. A day of trying to weave my life into the fabric of the world.

Here are 225 incredible places across the globe for you to seek out, explore, and make your own.

A classic image of paradise: One Foot Island, Aitutaki, Cook Islands