“Thunder Mountain” looks more like a huge hill, but its elevation of 2,254 feet above sea level makes it the highest point in the Pfalz. The three-hour-long, 5-plus-mile hike up Donnersberg and back is a breath of fresh air, and at the top, the views are worth it.

Surrounded by the Palatinate Forest, Bärenloch in Kindsbach is a popular spot for sunbathers, swimmers and tadpoles.

The souk on historic Muharraq Island, north of Manama, Bahrain, blends traditional market life and architectural innovation while underscoring Bahrain’s recent architectural revitalization to boost tourism.

The millennia-old cold case of Ötzi the Iceman has captivated professionals and the public alike, giving a museum in Bolzano, Italy, quite the showpiece with which to draw visitors.

The small Italian city of Spilimbergo is home to Europe’s largest natural stream and a center for the creation of mosaic artwork. Throughout the city, which is 30 to 40 minutes away from Aviano Air Base by car, remnants of frescoes painted on the sides of the buildings are still visible.

If you’re a Chelsea supporter, or just a soccer fan living pretty much anywhere in Europe, Stamford Bridge has to be on your short list of places to visit. Make sure to take the stadium tour.

Part of an archaeological park and nature preserve, Villa Pausilypon offers a glimpse of the hard-partying summer life of the Roman Empire’s elite.

Lined with cafes, restaurants and shops for the young and fashionable, Rainbow Street in downtown Amman lives up to its name with colorful decorations adorning the buildings and quirky graffiti.

Germany’s Bergstrasse is in bloom, and it’s a marvelous time to explore the route that runs from Darmstadt in the north to Heidelberg in the south.

Heiligenmoschel, Germany, is home to a planet walk, a special type of educational trail with a solar system theme. Each step of the route impresses upon you the immensity of the universe, the minuteness of Earth and the modesty of humanity’s ventures into the cosmic void.