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AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent writer Susan Orlean on a spontaneous journey to Denmark.

Find comfort in taking a trip to help conserve the wildlife.

Witnessing ceremonies of love take place around the world can reveal some pretty profound life lessons.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent Frank Viviano on a spontaneous journey to Venezuela.

Rebecca Walker embarks on a spontaneous journey to Bulgaria, guided by locals she connected with both virtually and in real life.

AFAR’s founder on visiting Egypt.

This two-auditorium space—with adjacent performance venues—is a lot more than simply a place to catch great concerts. Part of Parque de los Deseos and constructed opposite the city’s planetarium, it emerged from a citizen initiative meant to reanimate Medellín’s social and cultural life. The idea is to foment learning and create awareness about various musical disciplines. It offers a number of free musical and dance training programs; children’s orchestras from underserved neighborhoods also present memorable open-air recitals here. Casa de la Música is one part of an equation that, little by little, has allowed life to improve in complex and marvelous Medellín.

Beyond the beach, the billboards, and the freeways, there’s a city of neighborhoods waiting to be explored.

Montreal is famous for its music scene, and not just because of exports like Arcade Fire, Halfmoon Run, Grimes, Stars and, yes, Celine Dion. There is an inordinate number of bands here, and enough people interested in seeing live music to fill bars, clubs and concert halls literally every day of the week. The scene is vibrant and enthusiastic, running the gamut from world-class electronic music (this is the birthplace of the Mutek festival) to renowned classical music, and everything in between.

The Gothenburg music scene is an eclectic mix that includes heavy metal, experimental electronic music, and laid-back progressive rock. Maybe you’ve heard of acts like metal bands In Flames, At The Gates, or Hammerfall; electronic music wizards The Knife or Little Dragon; singer/songwriters Jens Lekman and José Gonsalez; or progressive rock bands Den Stora Vilan, Union Carbide Production, or Soundtrack of Our Lives? They all come from Gothenburg!

Expect to find jazz, rock, metal, Latino pop, salsa, and even classical. The live music scene in Mexico City goes way beyond mariachi—though you can certainly find that, too.

Trans Pecos is magic, and it happens once a year: a gathering of friends, music, art, camping, sandlot baseball and a night sky full of stars in Marfa, Texas. The festival leaves you plenty of time to explore Marfa and the surrounding high desert. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

Uncorking Switzerland’s Secret

They don’t call it Music City for nothing. A testament to its country music heritage and indie spirit, Nashville is a place best experienced through its honky-tonk bars and live music venues. But the city is also becoming something of a hipster’s paradise, with a thriving food scene, increased cultural offerings, and hotels that embrace the city’s newfound cool factor while continuing to pay homage to its homegrown past. From a converted train station to sleek skyscrapers, here are Nashville’s best places to stay.

There’s a lot more to the San Fermín festival than the running of the bulls. In Pamplona, a skeptic learns what it’s really like to attend the biggest summer fiesta in Basque country.