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This former royal palace is one of the largest museums in the world, and its art collection is considered one of the most comprehensive. It contains around 400,000 works, although—mercifully, perhaps—not all are on display at any one time. There are some pieces that never get taken off the walls. The Mona Lisa and her smile attract millions of visitors each year. Other must-see masterpieces include the sculptures Winged Victory of Samothrace and Michelangelo’s Rebellious Slave, and the Eugène Delacroix painting The Death of Sardanapalus. There’s no real trick to avoiding crowds at the always-packed museum. The best you can do is try to go in the off-season, early or late in the day, and on a weekday. Your chances of being alone with the Mona Lisa will still be slim to none, but you might be able to actually see that enigmatic smile behind the Plexiglas.

Anyone would think that a native Floridian would have spent significant time in The Keys. To be honest, I’ve only been a handful of times and mostly it was day trips to Key West. Although the southernmost key has its own charms, I was delighted to attend the opening of the Amara Cay Resort in Islamorada. The resort, boasting 110-spacious and bright rooms/suites, is a lovely combination of sexy South Florida and life on island time. My suite was spacious with clean designs and earthy tones complementing the constant view of the blue ocean from my balcony. Located directly on the water, travelers feel as though they have stepped out of the state and onto their own private island - perfect for residents of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Travelers are completely immersed in the modern rustic design the moment they entire the lobby, filled with reclaimed wood, and swinging papasan chairs. This is the perfect meeting point to wait for your friends and sip a cocktail or two. During my stay, I made sure to stop at Sparrows Rum Bar for oceanfront snack and beer. My friends and I danced into the night on the string-lit patio. Conveniently located next to the pool and beach, we were able to easily go back and forth. For dinner, we gorged on delicious seafood and Italian cuisine at Oltremare Ristorante. My biggest recommendation is the “Blood Lime” grapefruit cocktail, inspired by the popular Netflix show Bloodline. I’ll definitely be back the next time I need a quick escape.

In this week’s episode of Unpacked by AFAR, host Aislyn Greene visits Albuquerque to unpack the Southwestern city’s outdoorsy roots.

Experience local creativity among the destination’s stunning landscape in México

Explore oceans, deserts, and mountains in one of México’s most otherworldly landscapes.

Find well-being with style in this dreamy beach destination.

On this episode of “View From AFAR,” Adam Burke, President and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, talks about his dream of having 1 million people employed in the city’s tourism industry.

This island-hopping trip from Tahiti to Bora Bora includes top resorts, plus opportunities for snorkeling tours, 4x4 island safaris, and more.

Explore Arizona’s vineyards and desert spas, and a historic dude ranch near Tucson with this eight-day travel itinerary.

On this Feel-Good Friday episode of Unpacked by Afar, Aislyn Greene, Nikki Galteland, and Katherine LaGrave make the case that the path to happiness runs straight through a dance floor, a dog-friendly lobby, and a conversation with a stranger on a plane.

On this special live episode of Unpacked, Aislyn Greene talks with acclaimed L.A.-based architect Barbara Bestor about the buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes that define California.

On this episode of Unpacked: Travel to Listen, host Tim Chester discovers why the Mojave Desert around Joshua Tree has been producing some of rock’s most original music for decades—and why once the desert gets under your skin, it never really lets go.