Gulangyu Island, just a quick five-minute ferry ride from Xiamen, is a living museum of 19th-century trade and culture. Once a hub for merchants and diplomats, it became home to grand mansions built by Chinese and foreign traders taking advantage of Xiamen’s open port status. The island’s car-free streets are a joy to wander, weaving through colonial-style villas, leafy gardens, and striking architecture that blends European and Chinese influences. Ferries can get busy, especially on weekends and holidays, so booking your ticket two to three days in advance is a smart move. Once you’re there, take your time exploring the quieter corners, enjoying the local seafood, or visiting attractions like the Piano Museum or Sunlight Rock for panoramic views.

The Cathedral – a Gothic masterpiece surrounded by gardens, episcopal buildings and picturesque lanes of half-timbered houses is at the center of La Cité, the old town of Limoges. Guided tours of the Cathedral are available if you want to learn about its history.

Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, brings the excitement of space exploration to life with interactive exhibits, real spacecraft, and hands-on experiences. Get up close with a moon rock, see spacesuits worn by astronauts, and explore the history of human spaceflight through engaging films and artifacts. Don’t miss the tram tour—it takes you behind the scenes to Mission Control, where NASA guided Apollo missions and still oversees the International Space Station. You’ll also stop by the Astronaut Training Facility and Rocket Park, home to a massive Saturn V rocket, one of the most powerful ever built.

Deera Square is a central public space known by several names, including Alsafat, Justice Square, and colloquially as 'Chop-Chop Square', a reference to its former role as a site for public executions. Today, that macabre past stands in stark contrast to its present function. The square has been transformed into a vast, open area with landscaped greenery, benches and cafés. By afternoon and evening, it becomes a lively social hub where locals gather, creating a relaxed and communal atmosphere far removed from its historical notoriety.