We spent our first anniversary in Paris. Since then, we’ve taken a pickup truck across Texas, a train across Europe, and a plane to the Middle East. Travel has been the backdrop of our decade together.

Having visited 15 countries and almost two thirds of the States, we joke that we could win The Amazing Race, the reality show where pairs compete to be the first around the world.

At home in New York our schedules overlap far less than we’d like, with both of our jobs taking us to far-flung places at times. And while we’re happy to explore the world solo, each trip we take on our own reminds us of how much better it is to travel together. It’s not perfect, of course. Because travel forces you out of your comfort zone, it can bring unexpected challenges as well as unexpected joy. But I have to say that having my “pack mule” along — this wonderful man who won’t let me carry my own luggage — is my favorite way to travel.

Here’s what we’ve learned from a decade of travel together, from both sides:

Find Your Niche

Andy: Annie is the master of knowing all the possibilities for each location and how to squeeze the most into every day. When we first started traveling together, I would “tag along” more than help plan. But now, I have things I like to plan, like hunting down local beers that can’t be found anywhere else.

Annie: Restaurant reservations are my favorite thing to book, especially if it’s a big city like L.A., London, or Paris. But I also love figuring out tours, museums, events, guides, hotels, and pretty much everything else. And sometimes I do give Andy an “assignment” or two…

Challenge Yourselves

Andy: Within the first year of us being together, we realized we both prefer experiences to “things.”

Annie: No matter what, it is so important to leave your comfort zone. It doesn’t have to be overseas or a long trip away. But do day trips, or find a great B&B nearby to stay at for a night. Memories that are based on experience last longer than any gift.

Go Back to Places You Love

Andy: When you find a place that you love, don’t worry about wanting to go back instead of exploring somewhere new. The air of familiarity about a place makes it feel like home on the road and sometimes that is exactly what you need, comfortable but different.

Annie: I love when we visit familiar haunts like L.A., Long Island, and my home state of Arizona. The more exotic places we go, the more I appreciate places we know inside out — where neither of us cares about checking things off a list.

Enjoy the Ride

Annie: I can’t say that I love when something unexpected happens. But because of the nature of travel, we have to roll with Plan B, Plan C, and sometimes Plan D. I call Andy a content traveler. Nothing seems to faze him, from weather to delays. Our personalities complement each other.

Find Time to Be an Individual

Andy: At least once or twice each trip, we’ll head out on our own. Sometimes it is golf for me or an early workout for Annie, or I head out to find coffee while Annie sleeps in. Whatever the break is, there is something to be said for having the chance to have a little bit of space so that the break doesn’t come when you both realize you really need it.

Annie: I admit I need alone time more than Andy. But we both need it, and make sure we get it.

Remember That You’re a Team

Andy: The best advice I can give to couples who are traveling together is to remember that you’re on the same team. No matter what happens in the wild world of travel — whether she loses her luggage or he gets ripped off on currency conversion — it’s you two versus the world. When it’s all said and done, that rude waiter and crazy taxi driver are staying where you found them. Your partner is coming home with you.

Don’t Talk About Work

Annie: We are trying this on a short trip next week. Four days of no talking about work. I’ll let you know how it goes!

How do you find travel bliss when you’re traveling as a couple? Leave a comment to share your thoughts with the Intelligent Travel community.

My Answer: Photography is really no different than any other pursuit in life if you plan to make a living at it. Unfortunately, there are very few full time salaried photography jobs. All the photographers who take pictures for National Geographic Traveler are freelance independent business owners.

Taking pictures is an enjoyable activity, but if you decide that you want that to be your job you may find it’s not much fun anymore. So, in order to be a successful photographer you need to be absolutely obsessed with photography. You also need to have an inner compulsion to communicate stories you feel strongly about.

As I said before, becoming a photographer is not too different than other jobs. First you need to find out everything you can about that field, then you need to figure out who the decision-makers are. At the same time you must spend all your time taking pictures so that when you finally find the right person to talk to, you have the work to back up your ideas.

As a former director of photography at National Geographic magazine used to say:”If we want to hire you, we already know who you are!”

What he meant by that is photographing for National Geographic is not a first-timer’s job.

Our editors are constantly looking at magazines, books, newspapers, and online for photographers who deliver compelling pictures time and time again. Once they start to see a photographer’s name over and over associated with good work in different media, then they might reach out to those individuals and ask if they have any good story ideas.

Because it’s not enough to just be a good photographer. To make it at National Geographic you have to have interesting stories to tell.

Dan Westergren is director of photography for National Geographic Traveler magazine. Follow him on Twitter @dwestergren and on Instagram @danwestergren.

Do you have something you want to ask Dan about travel photography? He’ll be answering reader questions periodically on the blog, so be sure to leave a comment.

Well, not me.

I’ve spent a dozen years doing research for travel guidebooks, articles, and videos on trips that have taken me to cities on stilts in Siberia, abandoned kingdoms in Burma — even Queens on the 7 train. And while I’m likely to remember the locals I meet more vividly than the badly lit history museums I breeze through, I’ve learned there’s a resource on the ground that’s better than any local you’ll ever meet.

You.

It takes outsider eyes to really “see” a place. I would have never found unexcavated ruins in the backwaters of Bulgaria or “coffee clubs” at classic farm-town diners in the Great Plains if I had passively relied on advice I got from locals on the ground. If we’re being honest — at least in America — doing so often means being steered toward Applebee’s, shopping malls, and grande lattes at Starbucks. (I still refuse to say “grande.”)

How did I find these places? I was visiting as a travel writer. That means not traveling “like a local,” but in the company of locals — a subtle, but important, difference.

Me shooting video at a festival in Yakutsk, Russia. (Photograph courtesy Robert Reid)

Travel writers – at least good ones – don’t just drop into Bogotá or Brussels to see what happens, as fun as that can be. They do as much research as they can, devouring novels, articles, TV shows, and films about where they’ll be going to track down an angle, a hook, or a mythology that grabs them. Then they use that angle as a lens that sets them on a path. And that path can lead to unexpected, marvelous things.

It’s time to play with what makes up “travel.” The goal isn’t being “different” in what you do, it’s being personal.

Seriously, what do you like? Find ideas by looking at the “top 25 most played” songs in iTunes account, “recently played” documentaries on Netflix, or those old keepsakes you keep in a box under your bed. That chunk of lava your dad got you when you were six? That worn-out VHS tape of Duran Duran videos? Anything can turn into a makeshift guidebook if you approach it the right way. (For instance, my friend, David Farley, once used Lee Harvey Oswald as a lens for exploring Minsk.)

Looking back at my travel biography, I realize I’ve subconsciously used trips as patches for the punctured dreams of my childhood. The result? I became a Civil War re-enactor in a march at Gettysburg, drove a ’72 Moskvitch in the former Soviet bloc, and used a Monopoly board as a guide to Atlantic City.

I went even further with Billy Joel. As a recovering “Joelnik” (a big Joel fan, usually of the pre-“Uptown Girl” variety), I created a road-trip itinerary around Hicksville, New York, based on lyrics he wrote about his hometown in Long Island. I got to drive the actual “Miracle Mile,” get coffee at Cold Spring Harbor, and walk into the music room of his old high school.

And the “village green” where Brenda and Eddie met up in “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”? Turns out it’s a couple blocks from Joel’s home. When I finally pinpointed it, I met a guy with a broken nose who used to live across the street from Billy and remembered hearing him practice the piano.

I’ll never hear those songs the same way again.

Why do this? It’s empowering. It’s memorable. It builds on things that are already dear to you and introduces you to things you never knew you were looking for. It’s also fun.

You might not want to “travel like a travel writer” on every trip you take, but you should try it at least once – as if the technique itself were a “once in a lifetime” destination. I can promise you I learned more about Atlantic City trying to find Marven Gardens (turns out the Monopoly folks misspelled it) than I would have in any boardwalk casino.

This summer, I’m going to take you with me on some unexpected journeys using offbeat itineraries to inspire you to do the same.

Meanwhile, if you’re brave enough, share a few things you’re fond of (The Brady Bunch Grand Canyon episode, junior high obsessions, whatever) in the comments section, and we’ll see where it takes us.

Robert Reid has written a couple dozen guidebooks for Lonely Planet and regularly appears to discuss travel trends on national TV. Follow him on Twitter @ReidOnTravel.

I’ve been returning to the small capital city of Galicia — the northwestern corner of Spain that sits atop Portugal like a cap — for twelve years now. I first came here for the traditional post-graduation tour of Europe’s best bars and cheapest hostels with my boyfriend (now husband), one of La Coruña’s adoptive sons (he grew up in Bilbao).

The city became our home-away-from-home stopover, where his family fed us well, did our laundry, and let us camp out on the floor of their apartment by the port. The plan was to recharge, save some money, and push on to more exciting locales, but it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with La Coruña. Little did I know that just a few years later, I’d be introducing our children to its sandy beaches and lush, green interiors.

Plaza de Maria Pita is the city’s cultural heartbeat. (Photograph by Victor Morell Perez, Flickr)

Perhaps one of the reasons tourists overlook Galicia is because it doesn’t feel all that Spanish. Its misty mornings, rolling hills, and fishing villages remind me more of Ireland. Its people do, too. Thanks to an early settling by the Celts, Galegos have lighter hair and complexions than most Spaniards, and their festivities involve bagpipes, not flamenco. But the region also calls to mind Maine. Mostly rural Galicia is never very warm, has lots of coastline and seafood, and — the best part — isn’t swarming with tourists.

If you’re traveling to Spain, book a few days in La Coruña and see what’s kept me coming back for so long. Here are a few highlights to spark your wanderlust:

Getting Oriented

La Coruña is on a peninsula that juts into the Atlantic, with an active fishing port on one side and the beach on the other. The old city is between, pushing up the hill toward land’s end, where the Tower of Hercules (a UNESCO World Heritage site) has served as a beacon for sailors since the first century.

Stop by Bonilla a la Vista for churros. (Photograph by Henley Vazquez)

A long promenade hugs the coast, offering spectacular views of the sea and city (and an ideal running route). Orzán beach is wide and golden and, despite the chilly water, hearty Galegos swim and surf daily. And the wonderful Casa de los Peces, an aquarium built into the cliffs, shouldn’t be missed — especially if you have children.

In the old city, home in on Plaza Maria Pita (a smaller version of Madrid’s Plaza Mayor), a hub for cultural activities — from puppet shows to open-air symphonies — in the summer. On a cloudy day, my kids love nothing better than paying a visit to the local fish market (a short walk from the plaza) and gawking at the daily catch.

Resting Easy

Hotels are reasonably priced, and the decent Spanish chains (Hesperia, Melia) have an outpost here. What they lack in charm, they make up for in price and location. If you simply must have an ocean view, try the family-friendly Melia Maria Pita.

Eating Well

If you’re looking for cutting-edge culinary experiences, you won’t find them in La Coruña. What you will find is some of the best seafood in the world.

I could spend hours at Mesón Agustín, my go-to spot for shellfish. Be sure to try the percebes, a local delicacy that looks a bit like a goose foot (hence its name in English, Goose barnacle), but tastes like heaven. Across the Plaza Maria Pita, La Penela may be known for traditional Galician meats, but its insanely rich baked potatoes will leave you reeling (in the best way possible).

The expansive (and gorgeous) Playa de Frouxeira. (Photograph by Jrobles, Flickr)

For breakfast or a sweet break in the afternoon, stop by Bonilla a la Vista on Calle Real for the best churros (fried bread served with a side of melted chocolate for dipping) in town.

If you’re in the mood for a real treat, head to Gallo de Oro, an upscale but unpretentious restaurant in the countryside. My husband and I held our wedding reception here, and my family still raves about it. Parents, don’t let the white tablecloths fool you. Kids are very welcome (even in gourmet restaurants) in Spain. Don’t be surprised if they end up handling live lobsters or hanging out with the cook in the kitchen.

Going Afield

La Coruña makes the perfect home base for exploring Galicia’s extensive (and largely undeveloped) coastline. Santa Cruz is just a 15-minute drive and comes complete with a bay-protected beach and a crumbling castle that’s tailor-made for young explorers.

If you head up the coast, you’ll find two-mile-long Playa de Frouxeira, a hotspot for surfing and kiteboarding. South of the city you can visit the Cíes Islands (accessible by boat only), the famous cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, and the vineyards of the Rías Baixas, home to the crisp Albariño wines.

New York-based travel writer Henley Vazquez has lived on three continents, but she’s happiest when hitting the road with her husband and two kids. Follow her story on Twitter @HenleyVQ. 

It is easy to become inured to a country like Afghanistan, to dismiss it as a place endlessly wracked by war, hopeless.

It is easy to forget that it is full of human beings who do not fight on one side or the other but simply live their destinies, giving birth and harvesting whatever crops they are lucky to grow, building and rebuilding their homes, teaching their children, burying their elders, dreaming, scheming, worrying if there will be enough food the next season, or month, or day.

In her new memoir, The World Is a Carpet, award-winning journalist Anna Badkhen focuses on this Afghanistan, whose everyday rites and rhythms abide behind the newspaper headlines and nightly news reports.

An intrepid reporter who has written three previous books on Afghanistan, Badkhen chooses to set her new work mostly in Oqa, a hardscrabble village of 240 souls located on the edge of the Dasht-e-Leili Desert in far northern Afghanistan, a hamlet so negligible it doesn’t appear on any maps and government officials claim it doesn’t exist; even Google Maps doesn’t show it.

Yet Oqa is also in the heart of a region of renowned weavers, whose Turkoman carpets have been praised for their surpassing beauty, density and durability for centuries.

Explaining her attraction to Oqa, Badkhen writes:

“Perhaps I had come back for this: the unobstructed sky, the resilient candor of my hosts who wove joy out of sorrow, the seductive contrast between the ancient and the modern, between the unspeakable violence and the inexpressible beauty…. This was the friction that pierced me the first time I saw Oqa, in 2010, when I met Baba Nezar and his family, and watched for the first time his daughter-in-law squat upon the loom. That visit had lasted an afternoon. I had to return. I had to return and spend more time here—the time it took to weave a carpet.”

The book begins with Baba Nezar journeying to the market town of Dawlatabad to buy the yarn that his daughter-in-law, Thawra, will use to make this year’s carpet.

“For the next seven months,” Badkhen writes, “Thawra would squat on top of a horizontal loom built with two rusty lengths of iron pipe, cinder blocks, and sticks in one of Oqa’s forty cob huts. Day after day, she would knot coarse weft threads over warps of thin, undyed wool, weaving the most beautiful carpet I have ever seen.”

As the months unfold and the carpet grows, knot by knot, we learn how every carpet is a personal diary of the weaver’s, and her village’s, life:

“Fine clay dust will filter into Thawra’s mud-and-dung loom room as she weaves. Through the scrub-brush lath ceiling there will seep into the room particles of manure, infinitesimal flecks of gold from nearby barchans, the terrible black cough of her neighbors’ famished children, echoes of the war that jolts the plains and contorts the Cretaceous massifs of her land.”

We also learn about the village outside Thawra’s loom room: how the passage of time is measured in Oqa by the coming of the cranes in March, the return of the mynah birds in May, the ripening of melons (“gourdfuls of condensed sunshine”) in August; how time is passed in the village — drinking tea, talking, weaving, smoking opium.

We learn how villagers scrabble to eke a precarious existence out of their parched surroundings, raising goats, hunting for increasingly rare fowl, combing the desert for brush and minerals. We inhale the “smells of Afghanistan—manure, juniper fires, raw lamb fat.” We take part in an elaborate wedding that attracts some 700 celebrants to the roadless village – though the hired musicians refuse to show up because of fear of the Taliban.

Season by season, rite by rite, encounter by encounter, thread by illuminating thread, Badkhen weaves a glorious prose carpet that poignantly captures the surface and the soul of life in Oqa, and in all the Oqas that grace the loom of Afghanistan.

Don George is an editor at large at Traveler magazine and has edited several travel-writing anthologies, including his latest, Better Than Fiction. Follow him on Twitter @don_george.

Read any good travel books lately? Leave a comment or use the #Triplit hashtag on Twitter or Google+ to share your recommendations with the Intelligent Travel community.

Catch up with Erik by following @TheGlobalTrip on Instagram and Twitter.

Brooklyn is My City

Radegast Hall & Biergarten. (Photograph by Break.things, Flickr)

When someone comes to visit me, the first place I take them is Radegast Hall & Biergarten, one of several beer halls/gardens all within walking distance of each other in Williamsburg.

Summer is the best time to visit my city because there’s plenty to do outdoors, with free movie screenings in the parks and many food and music fairs.

You can see my city best from atop the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path.

Locals know to skip Grimaldi’s, the famous pizzeria under the Brooklyn Bridge, and check out Roberta’s in Bushwick instead.

Brooklyn Flea is the place to buy authentic, local souvenirs.

In the past, notable people like Spike Lee, Jay-Z, Woody Allen, Arthur Miller, The Beastie Boys, Neil Diamond, and Barbra Streisand have called my city home.

My city’s best museum is the Brooklyn Museum because it makes world-class art accessible to the community. The New York Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn is also great. But be warned: you might leave obsessed with trains.

If there’s one thing you should know about getting around my city, it’s that trains on the G line have fewer cars than most other lines in the New York subway system, and that you need to be in the center of the platform when it finally arrives — or you’ll miss it and have to wait a while for the next one.

A peek at the fare on offer at Roberta’s in Bushwick. (Photograph by Robyn Lee, Flickr)

The best place to spend time outdoors in my city is Prospect Park, Brighton Beach, or the Coney Island boardwalk.

My city really knows how to celebrate its Caribbean cultural heritage. Each year on Labor Day weekend, there’s a huge West Indian American Day Carnival in Crown Heights.

You can tell if someone is from my city if they continually mention how they live in Brooklyn with a sense of pride that has come to annoy many residents of the city’s other boroughs. (Maybe they’re just jealous.)

For a fancy night out, I can still wear jeans in the all the best restaurants, because the Brooklyn vibe is casual no matter where you are. However, if you want to really class it up, try The River Cafe. (There’s a dress code.)

Just outside my city, you can visit Manhattan, Governor’s Island (via the free ferry service from Brooklyn Bridge Park), and Queens.

My city is known for being a place where everyone talks in a stereotypical Italian-American accent with phrases like “fuhgeddaboudit,” but it’s really diverse with accents from everywhere, including the regular American one.

The best outdoor market in my city is Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene and Williamsburg.

Egg is my favorite place to grab breakfast, and The Meatball Shop or M Noodle Shop are my spot for late-night eats.

Jane’s Carousel with the Manhattan Bridge in the background. (Photograph by Gmacfadyen, Flickr)

To find out what’s going on at night and on the weekends, read The L Magazine, Brokelyn, or Time Out New York.

My city’s biggest sports event is whenever the New York Knicks play the Brooklyn Nets. Watch it at Barclay’s Center.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped, I go on a long bike ride, or just hang out with friends at one of our apartments with a cheap (but decent) bottle of wine.

To escape the crowds, I ride my bike around Prospect Park, down Ocean Parkway to Coney Island, or chill out by the river in East River Park.

If my city were a celebrity it’d be Brooklyn-born actor Steve Buscemi because even though he may not look like a flashy guy, he’s well-respected in the arts, and sort of quirky.

The dish that represents my city best is New York-style pizza (which originated in Brooklyn), although every neighborhood has its signature dish. Greenpoint has its Polish pierogies. Red Hook is known for Salvadoran pupusas. Brooklyn’s Chinatown in Sunset Park has its Cantonese noodles. And of course, Coney Island is almost synonymous with hot dogs. Beer is my city’s signature drink since it’s made by local brewers like Six Point, Kelso, and Brooklyn Brewery.

The Brooklyn Flea holds markets every weekend. (Photograph by Eric Konon, Flickr)

The glass Pavilion designed by Jean Nouvel in Dumbo is my favorite building in town because even though it’s modern and grand, it doesn’t overshadow what it houses: Jane’s Carousel, a restored carousel from the early 20th century.

The most random thing about my city is seeing a magician pull a rabbit from a hat on the subway. (I’ve also seen a woman peel potatoes on the subway; maybe she wanted to save time preparing dinner.)

Music Hall of Williamsburg is the best place to see live music, but if you’re in the mood to dance, check out Bembe.

Seeing a random Hasidic Jewish man skating down the street — and no one thinking it’s out of place — could only happen in my city.

In the spring you should check out the cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. (Photograph by Dave Bledsoe, Flickr)

In the summer you should check out the Mermaid Parade on Coney Island.

In the fall you should stroll around Prospect Park.

In the winter you should take the plunge with the Coney Island Polar Bear Club.

If you have kids (or are a kid at heart), you won’t want to miss Luna Park, the amusement park at Coney Island.

The best book about my city is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind is “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn” by the Beastie Boys. It’s our unofficial anthem.

In 140 characters or less, the world should heart my city because Manhattan may be the fast-paced face of New York City, but Brooklyn is its relaxed heart and soul.

Love where you live? Fill out our I Heart My City questionnaire for a chance to share your insider intel with the Intelligent Travel community.

You can play, too. Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories #NGTRadar to help us find the crème de la crème on the Web.

Here’s this week’s:

• Beautiful enough to be a “desktop computer screensaver,” Malapascua Island is paradise found. It might take some effort to get this Filipino Eden, but if you believe this blogger, the rewards are worth the trouble. @WanderlandAlex
• Not into elbowing your way through crowds in Vienna? Follow one local’s recommendations to uncover ten off-the-beaten-path (and surprising) gems in the Austrian capital. @Viennaunwrapped
• How many of the 962 UNESCO World Heritage sites have you visited? Gary Arndt has been to 250 — and has 25 random things to say about his experiences in some of the most unique places on Earth. @EverywhereTrip
• Could Lake Tahoe provide the backdrop for “America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride?” This blogger explains why the title may be justified as he details his journey around one of America’s most scenic freshwater destinations. @Gadling
• Want to steer clear of tourists and global chains while you’re in Bogotá? If you consider yourself a foodie, you’ll want to check out the Chapinero Alto neighborhood. Here’s a taste of the places that are putting this part of town on the map. @SkoggPhoto

Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories from the Web #NGTRadar. Then check back on Wednesdays for our Travel Lately roundup.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit the real Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle, where I imagined myself (Lady Annie) sitting on a bench under a parasol dreaming up the witty remarks I’d use to flirt with my third cousin at dinner. But you can’t sleep over at Highclere — unless you’re friends with the owners.

Every inch of Ballyfin has been restored to its original grandeur. (Photograph courtesy Ballyfin)

I finally found a place where you can actually stay that evokes a similar feeling (though it will transport you back even further in time): the Ballyfin Demesne.

When you arrive, it feels as if you’re stepping into a different world — an Ireland without economic problems, for one. Set on 6oo acres in County Laois (just 90 minutes from Dublin), the historic property is now a 5-star hotel. I hesitate calling it a hotel because it’s so much more, but it is indeed a hotel.

As my friend Jonathan Epstein, an Ireland expert and president of Celebrated Experiences, says, “Ballyfin is like a journey to a magical place you think only exists in imagination. It’s a place where history and modern luxuries dance in a perfect waltz.”

Ballyfin is unique in that the original spirit of the 1820s remains; every inch of the place has been restored to feel just as it was in its heyday, without feeling musty or old. The mansion changed hands several times over the years — including stints as ancestral home to several prominent families — until it was bought by the Patrician Brothers, who operated a Roman Catholic school on the premises for much of the 20th century.

Paintings of Coote family descendants adorn the main stairway. (Photograph courtesy Ballyfin)

Ballyfin wasn’t for sale when Fred and Kay Krehbiel came calling in 2002. “The school was dwindling down, and the house had gotten into very bad repair,” a manager at Ballyfin confided. ”The Patrician Brothers minded it very well, but they didn’t have the money to properly repair it.”

Once the Krehbiels had purchased the property, the husband-and-wife team set out to restore Ballyfin to its original grandeur under close supervision. Each detail was carefully sourced to ensure authenticity. For instance, the paintings in the main stairwell depict descendants of the Coote family (their coat of arms can still be seen above the entryway). And in the plush library, a bookcase doubles as a hidden passageway leading to a meticulously reconstructed glass conservatory.

The result is impressive, to say the least. To someone who has seen her fair share of hotels and resorts, Ballyfin stands alone.

Its new owners have not forgotten that an Irish country house was used primarily for pleasure and entertainment. While a top-of-the-line fitness center and pool allow for a great workout, guests seem to prefer exploring the walled garden, medieval-style tower, and manicured trails on the extensive grounds. And though the property oozes 19th-century charm, it offers every modern convenience you could want (like that free Wi-Fi travelers demand nowadays).

Depending on how you look at it, it’s either a brilliant or unfortunate thing that Ballyfin is open to overnight guests only. You can’t pop by for dinner or tour the grounds unless you’re staying there. But if you’ve ever dreamed of living at an Irish country estate, this is the place where you can do it.

As a result of the increase in overseas visitors, the country’s infrastructure has dramatically improved. This is good news for parents who have always wanted to take their children to Africa.

After returning from a recent trip with my family (see my last post), I’m more convinced than ever that South Africa is a top-notch destination for adventurous families. As Terry von Guilleaume of South African Airways Vacations said: “South Africa has such an incredible diversity of both natural attractions and culture, all within short distances of one another.”

Here are some of the places I’d recommend adding to your itinerary:

Cape Town

Cape Town Harbor (Photograph by Rainer Jenss)

Since you’re traveling all the way to Africa, you have to spend at least a couple of days in the continent’s most cosmopolitan city. Cape Town feels like a mix of San Francisco, Miami Beach, and Rio – with a dash of New York City thrown in for good measure. But not to worry, this town is very family friendly.

Table Mountain is the must-see attraction – as long as there’s no cloud cover. The children will love the cable car ride to the top, and the view is as good as views get. Once back at sea level, head down to the Two Oceans Aquarium (so named because it sits at the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans) to learn about the incredible variety of marine life found along South Africa’s shores. Great white sharks, jellyfish, right whales, even penguins are all common in this part of the world.

Want to really impress the kids? Take a drive to nearby Boulder Beach and visit the indigenous penguin colony, or head to the beachside suburb of Muizenberg and watch the surfers shred it while you play in the sand.

Kruger National Park

South Africa’s largest national park has one of the most biodiverse wildlife populations on the continent.

Rhinos in the bush at Kruger National Park (Photograph by Rainer Jenss)

You have the choice of staying on one of several private game reserves or venturing into the bush on a self-driven safari. We returned to our family favorite, Sabi Sabi, an exclusive 5-star property with some of the best safari rangers in the business.

Staying in a luxury camp like the Bush Lodge at Sabi Sabi certainly comes at a premium, but if you have your heart set on spotting a leopard or tracking a white rhino, this is as close to a guarantee as you’re going to get. With its huge wooden viewing decks overlooking a watering hole, you don’t need to leave the resort to see the wildlife.

There’s even an “EleFun” Center the kids can hang out in between game drives. Meant to foster children’s awareness and appreciation for the biodiversity in the bush, this recently completed kids club offers interactive activities for Junior Trackers (ages 4 to 8) or Junior Rangers (ages 9 to 12).

Johannesburg

Going on a safari is still the main event on most South African itineraries. If you’re flying to or from Kruger National Park, you might need to overnight in Johannesburg. Not long ago, this proposition left you little choice but to hunker down in a hotel near the airport as tourists were strongly advised to avoid the city. Though there are certainly areas of Jo’burg you’ll want to avoid, much of the city is perfectly safe for families to visit.

Life-size figures outside the Apartheid Museum (Photograph by Georgia Popplewell, Flickr)

The Palazzo Montecasino, located in the upscale suburb of Fourways, makes a good home base if you’re looking to extend your stay. Though you and your family might feel out of place at the giant casino, the Bird Gardens, food court, and movie theater located right on premises will be big hits.

If you’re traveling with teens, a visit to the new Apartheid Museum will help them gain a better understanding of the country’s controversial history and add another layer of complexity to their trip.

How to Book:

You have two options when it comes to booking a trip like this: working with a tour operator or planning it yourself. “I always suggest to families that they look into prepackaged tours, find one you like, and then tweak it, “ says von Guilleaume. “Use a predesigned itinerary as your base, and then with a consultant’s advice, tear it up and make it meet your exact needs.”

Rainer Jenss is a featured contributor for Intelligent Travel. Follow his story on Twitter @JenssTravels.

Related:

• National Geographic’s Guide to South Africa
• National Geographic’s Guide to Cape Town
• South African Wildlife Photos from Nat Geo Kids

In addition to being one of America’s first “old money” enclaves (see The Philadelphia Story), the area has maintained its reputation for being a prime place to settle down and raise a family. I can verify this from personal experience, having just returned from my cousin’s baby shower, where I met scads of picture-perfect (and fun!) couples who are raising families on the Main Line.

As someone who has yet to have kids, I wondered if the Main Line had enough going on to justify recommending it as a weekend getaway. The answer turned out to be, unequivocally, yes.

I loved the rolling hills, acres of pasture, small towns with a deep-rooted sense of place, and delicious restaurants. Plus, all eyes are on the Main Line this week as the U.S. Open kicks off at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore.

With so many quaint hamlets dotting the Main Line, this is by no means an exhaustive list (I spent most of my time in Wayne, Bryn Mawr, Villanova, and Malvern), so feel free to add your favorite spots in the comments section below!

Here are a few reasons to plan a trip to Philadelphia’s Main Line:

A scallop dish at the White Dog Cafe (Photograph by Annie Fitzsimmons)

To Stay: A landmark on the Main Line for more than 100 years, the Wayne Hotel epitomizes old-time elegance. Even if you’re not staying at the renovated Tudor Revival style inn, stop by to have a cocktail on the porch and watch the town stream by.

Good Eats: Though it’s called The Classic Diner, the food at this Malvern eatery is a cut above diner fare. The Wayne location of White Dog Cafe is truly special, both for its emphasis on local ingredients and for its decor, which feels like a quirky Ralph Lauren ad. Nectar is a sophisticated spot with Asian flair, while Teresa’s Next Door has an extensive beer list and Georges’ offers up American cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. End your night at The Flying Pig Saloon, a Malvern mainstay with quintessential neighborhood-bar quirk (think Christmas lights and lava lamps). I left wanting to be a regular.

Sweet Spot: Started by a Philadelphia college student, Hope’s Cookies churns out delectable flavors like “lemon sugar” and “double fudge” for its legions of devotees. The parking lot at Handel’s in Berwyn is packed with ice cream lovers every night in the summer.

The courtyard at Suburban Square (Photograph by Kimco Realty, Flickr)

Health Kick: While there is no shortage of indoor offerings (Focus Fitness has a great lineup of classes, and my favorite spin studio in NYC, Flywheel, just opened a branch in Bryn Mawr), you’ll find the Main Line’s real natural allure outside. Join the locals in taking advantage of the ample walking and biking trails, tennis courts, sports fields, and parks (my favorite was The Willows in Radnor) in the area.

Shop Suburbia: My fiancé joked that I could be the “Suburban Insider” when we went to King of Prussia Mall, the largest mall in the U.S. Sure, malls lack an authentic spirit, but this one is worth a stop. Outdoor Main Line favorite Suburban Square, with upscale chains like Lululemon and Lilly Pulitzer, brings an air of So-Cal breeziness to the area, while Anthropologie’s flagship store in Wayne remains a draw to this day. Interior design aficionados won’t want to miss Haven.

The Devon Horse Show has been held since 1896. (Photograph by Photommo, Flickr)

Nature’s Way: The Lancaster County Farmers Market in Wayne operates three days a week, bringing in just picked produce from nearby farms (it also boasts a cute gift shop called The Cottage at the Market). You can pick up berries and vegetables in the summer at Sugartown Strawberries, and go on hayrides in the fall. And Chanticleer Gardens is a romantic spot with highlights like the Teacup Garden.

World-Class Art: Though the Barnes Foundation recently relocated its impressive collection of Renoirs, Matisses, and Picassos to downtown Philadelphia (which is an absolute must-see), the arboretum at its original campus in Merion is well worth a visit.

Old-World Events: Held each spring, the Devon Horse Show is one of the most respected, historic shows in the nation. The Radnor Hunt is the oldest continuously active fox hunt in America, taking place on 100 acres of idyllic countryside.

Annie Fitzsimmons is Intelligent Travel’s Urban Insider, giving you the dish on the best things to see and do in cities all over the world. Follow her on Twitter @anniefitz.