Drawn from the life lists of National Geographic's expert travel writers and photographers, Best of the Worldtakes you on an inspiring tour of the world's most appealing and transformative locales, both natural and man-made. Best of the Worlddirects readers to hidden mountaintop communities; medieval alleyways in thousand-year-old cities; scenic tropical atolls; spectacular national parks; ancient wonders; buzzing metropolises; remote corners of the globe, tropical rain forests; the heartland of America; and hundreds of other unique places. The sites are organized in themed chapters titled Country Unbound, Wild Places, Urban Spaces, Paradise Found, and World Wonders. Some places are small and distinct enough to be life-changing just from their unique nature. For larger locations, such as major cities and regions, Best of the Worldwill point readers to the specific experiences that will make their trip stand apart from the everyday and the ordinary. Both inspirational and practical, Best of the Worldcaptures the imagination while also giving readers the tools they need to plan their dream trips. Each chapter features stunning photographs, full-color maps, evocative text, and useful information--including how to get there, when to visit, and insider tips on how to make the most of the journey--all packaged in a luxurious, oversized volume to treasure and peruse for many years to come. Sidebars include "My Best Place" (more than forty literary expressions exploring a destination's intrigue by luminaries such as Andrew McCarthy, Jan Morris, and Rudy Maxa; "Best of the Best," which provides expanded details on one particular feature of the destination; "In the Know," which offers background on an ancillary or secondary facet or theme of the place; and "Transformative Moments," first-person subjective accounts by Travelermagazine and Travelerguidebook writers of personal and life-changing travel experiences. Each chapter contains two to five separate "Best of the World" lists, which feature shorter entries on a wide variety of themed categories, from "Best Uninhabited Islands" to "Best Transporting Works of Art" to "Best Ancient Roman Ruins Outside of Italy."