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Arizona is “The Grand Canyon State,” and yes, nothing else in the world is quite like Arizona’s most famous natural wonder. But you’ll also find other types of spectacular natural beauty: alpine tundra, evergreen forests, riparian canyons, snow-capped peaks, and flower-carpeted flatlands. Just be sure to time your visit with the seasons, and your dreamscapes will forever after be infused with Arizona’s natural wonders.

A traveler journeys to the heart of Grasse, where jasmine grows and memories linger.

Tucson, Arizona may sometimes get overlooked as visitors fly into and out of Phoenix, but Arizona’s second city is anything but second-rate. Savor a chile pepper–infused breakfast, then walk it off as you contemplate Tucson’s archaeology, botany, and multicultural shopping. Catch a legendary sunset from Tucson’s desert edges, then end the day with a farm-to-table dinner to get a real taste of this part of Arizona.

November to April, snowbirds settle in and everyone soaks up Arizona’s sun. But if you want snow, just go up! After golfing or swimming down in the desert, in less than an hour you can be up in Arizona’s mountains skiing among evergreen forests. Traveling to Arizona can mean fleeing from the snow or escaping to seek solace in a quiet white landscape. Take your pick; it’s here waiting for you.

This mountain-college-town is the gateway to the Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona’s ski country. At over 7000-feet and surrounded by the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest, Flagstaff’s 19th-century downtown has become a restaurant-and-microbrew mecca. Don’t just pass through here; linger and get a taste.

Arizona’s best hotels are as varied as its landscapes. Everywhere from the Grand Canyon to downtown Phoenix to Camelback Mountain, you’ll find glamping retreats, dude ranches, spa-centric stays, historic hotels, and even boutique properties with design-forward guest rooms. Whether you’re seeking a kid-friendly spot for a family road trip or a secluded resort for a romantic getaway, you’ll find it all in the Grand Canyon State.

A refugee-turned-doctor takes the trip of a lifetime, tracking gorillas through the wilds of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Stay where the chocolate is made.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent writer Eric Weiner on a spontaneous journey to Liechtenstein.

The Ocucaje Desert holds some of the most important fossils in the world. And their only defender is a renegade guide with an eye for shark teeth.

Love architecture? Then you’ll want to know about these hotels.

Fatima is one of the most important religious pilgrimage sites in the world. Pilgrims travel to Fatima year round but the 13th of the months of May to October are the days that celebrate the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to the three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria ( a valley) in the parish of Fatima in 1917. On those days you may be in a crowd of thousands of pilgrims many of whom arrived from hours away on foot. A pilgrimage to this holy site is a very special experience.

The Uco Valley has put Mendoza on the world map for its wineries and winemakers, gastronomic experiences, luxury lodgings, and matchless beauty.

Germany’s oldest and most famous university town, Heidelberg is known for its striking Old Town, beautiful setting on the Neckar River, and evocative hilltop castle. Destroyed by French troops in the 1690s, rebuilt during the 18th century, and miraculously unscathed during World War II, it’s proved a source of inspiration for everyone from Goethe to William Turner to Mark Twain. Equally romantic is the surrounding valley, full of forests, fortresses, castles, and charming villages like Bad Wimpfen.

From cozy accommodations at the Mexican Home Cooking school near Tlaxcala, you can explore the big city of Puebla and the remote ruins of ancient civilizations.