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Yes, you can—and should—pluck and eat the sugar bananas you find near Sydney’s harbor or the pomegranates in the Jerusalem’s public squares. Here, a guide to city foraging and a few places to try your hand.

Move over, Guinness—Ireland’s most popular export to Asia is a little-known sport called Gaelic football.

While the world swoons over New Orleans and Charleston, the port cities of Virginia’s Tidewater region have created a one-of-a-kind cooking that’s ready for its close-up.

As a kid moving from one hotel to the next, AFAR deputy editor Jennifer Flowers found nourishment in family rituals. Here, she shares her secret for beating homesickness.

Scuba diving is a great way to see the world. Here’s how to get started

Well, it’s actually not that surprising once you learn about musical culture in the Philippines.

When it comes to solo sojourns, a new generation of apps is attempting to connect travelers faster than ever.

You won’t be able to find authentic Filipino food in the Philippines—until you step into a local’s home.

10 of the Most Extravagant Hotel Lobbies in the World

The give and take of a 20-year friendship.

Take the kids here for a nice break, especially when it’s really hot outside. There are many different sealife-based attractions and shows, including this exhibit that makes you almost feel like you’re swimming along! (My favorite was the Jellies exhibit.) MOP is located in a larger mall-like complex with a range of eating options.

Almost a decade after WWII, the United States asked the Philippines for a piece of land in Metro Manila and assembled the largest war dead cemetery and memorial for American troops (including unknown soldiers and those still classified as missing in action) outside of the United States. Over seventeen thousand white marble headstones fan out from a central memorial and small chapel. The grass is said to have been grafted from that covering Arlington National Cemetery. Sobering but serenely beautiful, the cemetery is on the edge of Makati, Manila’s main financial district, and would be worth a quick visit if you find yourself here on business without a lot of time for sightseeing. Entry is free and the cemetery is open from 9am to 5pm daily.

Visiting the Philippines without trying “Halo Halo” won’t be complete. Everytime I have friends or relatives from abroad come visit, I would bring them out to have Halo Halo. Halo Halo came from the Tagalog word for “mix” which is what it is. Halo Halo is a favorite dessert among Filipinos and is made up of a many ingredients such as beans (kidney beans, garbanzos, red beans), fruits (plantain bananas, jackfruit) and coconut based jelly-like desserts (sugar palm or kaong, nata de coco made from coconut juice). Then lots of shaved ice and milk are placed over it. And finally, topped with a small slice of leche flan (the local version of cream custard) and ube yam (purple yam). Some versions also top it with some gelatin, cheese and pinipig (crispy rice). Oh, and a special one comes with a scoop of ice cream on top. My favorite flavor would be Ube :-) But wait, we’re not yet done yet! The proper way to eat it is to MIX it up first so that each spoonful gives you an explosion of taste of each and every ingredient :-) The best ones are from the public markets, but you can also get these at the most luxurious hotel restaurants. My recommendation: go to something in between :-) Icebergs (a local ice cream and snack bar chain), Chow King (a local food chain), and Razon’s (a local family owned establishment) all offer great halo halo at great prices too. There are a lot of branches, and are either stand-alone restaurants or stalls located in the mall food courts.

Overview

Whether you’re an urban explorer or more of a beach bum, there’s a hotel in the Philippines for your type of trip. While business travelers tend to stay near Manila, many will fly through the hub to hit the famous beaches of the Philippine islands, where there are five-star resorts and plenty of sunshine. Here’s where to find everything from a historic hotel with views of Manila Bay and a luxury property near Makati’s best shopping to a private island resort surrounded by coral reefs.