Schloss Benrath (Benrath Palace) was built as a pleasure and hunting palace for the Elector Carl Theodor. Today, the ensemble in its artistic unity of buildings, interior and gardens, 60 hectares in all, is considered one of Europe’s rare complete works of art of the late baroque period. The main palace building (corps de logis), with its furniture, porcelain, paintings, etc., gives an impression of court life in the second half of the 18th century. The eastern wing houses the “Museum für Europäische Gartenkunst” (Museum of European Garden Art) and the western wing the “Museum für Naturkunde” (Museum of Natural Sciences).

This field reminds its visitors of a time of brutal executions and torture. More than 17,000 people were killed here during the Khmer Rouge regime, and today, there are mass graves and a memorial stupa (a Buddhist reliquary) with thousands of human bones. An audio tour tells the heart-braking history.

If you want to get a sense of what Alaska is all about—its people, landscapes, and some weather science thrown in—the Anchorage Museum is a solid first stop. It pulls together Indigenous culture, contemporary art, and hands-on exhibits in a way that doesn’t feel like homework. The Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center is especially worth a look. Easy place to spend a couple of hours, especially when the weather’s doing its usual thing.