Diyas, or oil lamps, are lit in celebration of the five-day Hindu festival of Diwali, which this year began October 24. (Photo by Arria Belli)

Happy Diwali! Today, more than 1 billion people around the world will celebrate the Hindu festival of lights.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is actually the third day of a five-day celebration and the last day of the Hindu calendar. The holiday is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs and takes place annually between October and November. Diwali is celebrated around the world as the triumph inner light over evil.

Although traditions vary around the world, Diwali is universally celebrated with the lighting of diyas, or small clay oil lamps, and the gathering of family and friends. Celebrants often share sweets and snacks, which are prepared on the first day of celebrations. In many places, fireworks are set off throughout the night and homes are decorated with diyas.

Each day of the Diwali festival commemorates one of six stories associated with the holiday, and observers mark by a different form of celebration and remembrance. On the last day, people visit the temple to give thanks for their blessings during the previous year.

Diwali is widely celebrated throughout India and in other countries with large populations of Hindu people, including much of southeast Asia and parts of Africa. Additionally, Hindus celebrate Diwali around the world, including in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

I’ve been dreaming for years of visiting India for Diwali. The celebrations are characterized by warmth and generosity of spirit, the gathering of family and friends and the sharing of good food. So although I am not celebrating Diwali in India this year, I look forward to doing so someday. And of course, happy Diwali to all!

To find out more about the Diwali celebrations, as well as some practical advice for visiting India for the festival, visit these articles on Lonely Planet or Go India.

Jessica Dingman, a hospital social worker in Washington state, visited Ghana in March 2011 as a volunteer through Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS). CCS places volunteers in a dozen countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe for between one and 12 weeks. Program fees start at about $1,900 and include placement, activities, lodging at a home base, meals and safe water, ground transportation, medical insurance and pre-departure support. Volunteers are responsible for airfare and the cost of obtaining a visa and necessary immunizations.

Jessica volunteered in a hospital in the town of Hohoe, in the Volta Region of Ghana, where the Ewe people make up the majority of the population. I asked her some questions about her experience in Ghana and with CCS. All of the photos are hers.

Q: How did you hear about Cross-Cultural Solutions?

I just looked online and researched various different volunteer programs. I really liked how Cross-Cultural Solutions was set up to include volunteering, cultural immersion activities, excursions and free time. It seemed like a safe way to travel to Africa on my own for the first time. The meals, lodging and transportation were included and I had help navigating all of the preparation that was needed prior to travel (visa, immunizations, etc.).

Q: Why did you decide to participate, and how did you choose Ghana?

A few years ago I had started the process to go Ghana with the same program for three months (for a quarter of my Masters program). Unfortunately, my father passed away quite suddenly and that was put on hold. At the time, I was in college and had more free time. Now that I have a full time job, the most I can really take off is a week or two at a time. This seemed like a way that I could still get to do what I had wanted to, even if it was for a shorter period of time. I was concerned that a week in Ghana wouldn’t be enough time, but it was amazing how much I was able to experience in a week. It definitely left me wanting to go back though!

Q: Tell me a little about your experience.

I am a social worker in a children’s hospital, so I decided that I would volunteer in a hospital in Ghana. My mornings consisted of volunteering at the local hospital (Hohoe Municipal) in the children’s ward. The first day, I was able to tour the whole hospital including the emergency room, physical therapy unit, HIV clinic, prenatal clinic and the mortuary. The waiting rooms were all open air, and there were often chickens and goats wandering through.

The hospital overall was nicer than I had imagined, but many of the supplies were old and it definitely didn’t seem very hygienic. I think there were only a few doctors covering the whole hospital. Many of the children in the unit had malaria, colds and diarrhea, and many had been there for months with all-over-body burns. I was told that many children get burned with the boiling pots of water left outside for cooking. The nurses told me that when children have cancer, tumors or more serious illnesses that they are sent to the larger hospitals in bigger cities. My role was really just to play with the kids. I brought activities and just coloring and looking at books made them so happy. I brought a few pictures from home, which were a big hit.

The first day at my volunteer placement was a little rough. It was hard to find my role. The nurses weren’t very welcoming and they didn’t seem to have anything for me to do. The next day I had practiced some words and the traditional welcome, I made more of an effort to connect with the staff and they welcomed me with open arms. I think I was probably misreading them due to my own anxiety. I really had to just make myself busy holding babies, talking to parents and playing with the kids. They hadn’t had many volunteers at the hospital other than medical students, so the idea of “play” in the hospital seemed foreign to them. I ended up loving my placement by the end and it was sad to say goodbye.

In the afternoons we would have lunch and then head off to an excursion. We went to a waterfall, a monkey sanctuary, to the market, participated in traditional dancing and drumming, learned how to “batik” which is who they imprint their fabric, and attended a traditional church service. We had some free time to walk around the community and get to know some of the local people. Everyone was so nice, friendly and interested in learning about our culture. We really did stand out. We were the only volunteers there, and we were definitely not in a tourist area.

All of our meals were prepared by staff who lived in Ghana, so it was authentic and fabulous. The mangoes were to die for. We showered using buckets and garbage cans of water in the hallway. It was a unique experience that made me realize how much water we waste here. You can really get clean with just a few buckets of water! This also made me more appreciative of the luxuries we have here, and not to take them for granted, or misuse them. The mosquitoes weren’t as bad as I thought, which I was grateful for. The weather was hot, but every afternoon there was a huge rainstorm and all of the power in the town would go off; in fact, the power was out more than it was on.

Q: How was your experience with Cross-Cultural Solutions?

I would absolutely travel with Cross Cultural Solutions again. The staff was amazing. In fact, I am already thinking about my next trip. I would love to go to Belize, South Africa or India next. It is a great way to travel on your own, meet great people and experience new cultures in a short amount of time. While I think two weeks would probably be better than the one week, I was amazed at everything I was able to experience in just a week! I didn’t feel any jet lag until I got home. There was too much to do and see to be tired. The program also connects all of the volunteers by email, before the trip so you have a chance to get to know one another before meeting, which makes it less intimidating going into.

This snow cone shop stands across the street from the Saturday farmer's market in the town of Mandeville, on the north shore of Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain.

I spent the weekend camping at Fountainbleau State Park, on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, with a couple of my friends. The white, sandy beaches are reminiscent of the Florida gulf beaches, except that they’re lined with crooked, gnarled trees draped with Spanish moss. The water was warm, even now, in October, and the beach was filled with children and families like it was the peak of summer. From the shore, you can see the 24-mile Lake Ponchartrain Causeway from nearby Mandeville, Lousiana, stretch across the water toward New Orleans and disappear at the horizon.

Fountainbleau has more than enough activities to fill a weekend. The 2,800-acre park is sandwiched between two bayous and much of it is marshland. Visitors can swim in the warm water, fish off the pier or from the shore, or hike on six miles of nature and hiking trails. You can also see remnants of the park’s past in the form of a crumbling sugar mill, part of the plantation that once occupied the area. (The visitor’s center gives more insight into the history and ecology of the area.)

We ventured out of the park on Saturday to visit the nearby town of Mandeville. The Saturday morning farmer’s market featured a mix of unique crafts, Cajun food, baked goods and local produce. The town is a great place to rent bikes for the day or afternoon; biking is another popular activity for visitors to the area, who ride along the Tammany Trace or up and down the local streets.

Further north is the town of Covington, a great destination for art lovers. The small town of 8,500 has half a dozen art galleries. The town also features the largest statue of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, standing at 10 feet tall. We didn’t make it to Covington this trip, but I’m planning a trip out there soon.

The Fountainbleau campground was well-maintained, but the camp sites had little to no privacy and were situated far from the lake and other activities. Next time I visit, I’ll consider the lakeside cabins, which sleep up to 8 people and start at $120 a night.

The Alaska Marine Highway System is a ferry that takes passengers from Washington state to the Aleutian Islands. The ferry offers spectacular views and a memorable journey, all for modest prices. Photographer Mardi Krusemark writes about her experience on the ferry this past July.

I have been wanting to do this trip since high school. I was told it was a fun and cheap way to see Alaska. And in the 40 years I have waited, that message has not changed. The Alaska Marine Highway, a ferry from Bellingham, Washington to the beginning of the Aleutian Islands chain, is a great journey.

When you first board the ferry you need to claim your sleeping space. That space can vary from a simple double or quad bunk bed cabin to a plastic lounge chair in the heated (and covered) solarium to a place to pitch your tent on the back deck of the ship (will be wet and often windy). And some folks take their chances and claim a comfortable chair on one of the lounges or a sofa in the hallway or even a corner piled high with their belongings and a sleeping space on the floor. Basically in terms of sleeping accommodations, anything goes.

The ship has a nice dining room with lots of fish offerings and a smaller snack bar with drinks and lighter fare. There is also a cocktail lounge with occasional music provided by some of the passengers. Bathrooms, showers, a laundry room and a small gift shop provide necessary amenities.

The entertainment is mostly up to you. HA. Well, if you need a diversion other than the awesome scenery, there is an occasional movie, and in the summer National Park rangers give several talks during the day. Plus, there are so many interesting people it is easy to have a conversation with locals from the bush, young adults looking for a new job or just an adventure, kayakers on their way north for a month-long cruise, older folks content to read and sightsee in the indoor lounges, and even fellow photographers. It has a friendly, relaxed pace and you come to know faces and even names as you cruise the waterways.

What might you see? Headed north you start in the San Juan Islands of Washington, weaving through islands populated with summer cabins and some incredible “getaways” for the millionaires of the world. You pass Vancouver, BC, and then steam along the coast of Vancouver Island. By the evening of your first day you pretty much leave the population behind. The trees change as you head north but are a constant delight of greens. The mountains on both sides are snowy peaks, any one of which is deserving of a classic photo. The few boats you see are mainly working tugs, fishing boats and a few recreational folks. Each of the islands has unique topography, and the inlets are green and inviting. Lighthouses and narrow rushing passages with huge whirlpools keep the trip interesting. And there is always the need for keeping an eye out for marine mammals and birds.

The trip to Alaska’s first stop, Ketchikan, is 38 hours. Going to the stop nearest Anchorage about doubles that time. You can get off and re-board, spending time in whatever town or village appeals to you. Alaska is good for fishing, exploring native cultures, eating your fill of fresh-caught seafood, viewing glaciers and water-related vistas and seeing all kinds of wildlife from eagles to bears to moose to whales.

Prices from Bellingham, Washington, to Alaska begin at $239 for a one-way trip. You will pay extra to bring your car or rent a cabin for the night. Check out the Alaska Marine Highway System website for more information than you would possibly need. And make reservations as soon as you can for a really great trip.

To see more photographs of Mardi’s trip to Alaska, visit her website.

Most World’s Fair buildings are temporary, but some – including these 8 wonders – have become permanent fixtures.

Since the first World’s Fair (which goes by various other names, such as World Expo and Universal Exposition) in 1851, more than 50 fairs have been held to celebrate and share the marvels of modern technology, art and science. World’s Fairs draw huge crowds and the cities that serve as hosts have invested millions of dollars in creating an infrastructure to accommodate the events.

World’s Fair buildings are nearly always meant to be temporary, but a few have become fixed icons for modern sightseers. Here is a list of 8 World’s Fair Wonders that were spared the wrecking ball.

Eiffel Tower (Paris, France): This is certainly the most famous product of any World’s Fair. This monument, designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, was designed to be the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair. The fair, called the Exposition Universelle, marked the 100^th anniversary of the French Revolution. At over 1,000 feet tall (that’s over 300 meters), the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris.

Memorial Hall (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA): The United States also celebrated its centennial with a World’s Fair. The 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia was the United States’ first big world fair and the Beaux-Arts style Memorial Hall was designed to showcase art exhibits. Today, the Hall is home to the Please Touch Museum, a children’s museum with interactive exhibits, including the Walking Piano, featured in the movie Big.

Royal Exhibition Building (Melbourne, Australia): The Royal Exhibition, Australia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, was constructed for the 1880 International Exhibition. The building also hosted the 1888 Centennial Exhibition and the first Parliament of Australia in 1901. The building is located among the Victorian-style Carlton Gardens, also part of the World Heritage Site. The building is still used for commercial exhibitions and is also open for regular tours.

Palace of Fine Arts (San Francisco, California, USA): The Palace of Fine Arts was created for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition to house artwork at the event. The Greek- and Roman-inspired architecture was designed by Bernard Maybeck to look like an ancient ruin. The palace has been heavily renovated, and in 1964 it was almost completely demolished and rebuilt. Today, the palace is home to the Exploratorium interactive museum and home of the Palace of Fine Arts Theater.

Palau Nacional (Barcelona, Spain): The Palau Nacional was built during the three years leading up to the 1929 World’s Fair as the exhibition hall for 5,000 Spanish works of art during the event. The Spanish renaissance-style building is located on the city’s Montjuïc hill. Today, it houses the Museu d’Art de Catalunya, featuring Catalan and European art from the 11^th century to present day. In front of the museum is the Font Màgica (Magic Fountain), which becomes a synchronized water show on summer evenings.

Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago, Illonois, USA): The former Palace of Fine Arts was constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, which celebrated the 400^th year of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World. Since its construction, the Palace of Fine Arts has housed several museums, including the Columbian Museum and the Field Museum of Natural History. The Museum of Science and Industry first opened in 1933 and today houses more than 2,000 exhibits, including an interactive coal mining experience and a walk-through model of a human heart.

The Atomium (Brussels, Belgium): The 335-foot (102-meter) Atomium was built for Expo ’58 in Brussels. The structure consists of nine steel spheres connected by 12 vertices to mimic the shape of a unit cell. The monument was originally intended to be temporary, but became a popular symbol of the era and has been made a permanent and very popular fixture in Brussels. Six of the nine spheres are open to the public and accessible by escalator. (Photo © www.atomium.be – SABAM 2010)

Space Needle & Seattle Center (Seattle, Washington, USA): The Space Needle and surrounding Seattle Center were designed for the 1962 Century 21 Exposition. The Space Needle was designed to withstand earthquakes of a magnitude of up to 9.1 and Category 5 hurricane-force winds. The structure is 605 feet (184 meters) tall and when it was created, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Near the Space Needle, fair planners also constructed a monorail to take visitors from downtown Seattle to the exposition site. Today, the Space Needle has a rotating restaurant and gift shop at the top and an elevator takes visitors to the top at a rate of 10 miles per hour.

Sometimes, the place you sleep is one of the most memorable parts of your trip. You’ll definitely remember these accommodations at a castle on the Rhine.

Now, even budget travelers can sleep in a castle! The 12th-century Burg Stahleck, on the Rhine River, has been a hostel since 1926.

Burg Stahleck is 12^th century castle high on a rocky crag overlooking the charming town of Bacharach, Germany, on the Rhine River. A castle is anything but rare along this stretch of river. On any boat or bike ride along the river, you’ll never be out of sight of one, and often you can see two or three with just a turn of the head.

The area has a complex and fascinating history, filled with bloody wars and robber barons, and Burg Stahleck sat in the middle of the action. It changed hands countless times and was often damaged in the chaos of battle and then rebuilt. Burg Stahleck was first established as a hostel in 1926. During World War II, the Nazis used the castle as both a training facility and a hospital, and was returned to use as a youth hostel in 1947.

This view of the Rhine River is from the courtyard at Burg Stahleck.

Today, Burg Stahleck can accommodate 168 guests in dorms and 2- and 4-bed rooms. The hostel offers a hearty German breakfast daily, as well as cafeteria-style dinner for an extra fee. The hostel is popular with families and has lots of options for distraction, ranging from television to arcade video games. A small café has limited options for late-night cravings. The hostel also has WiFi and a beautiful outdoor picnic area with fantastic views.

This view is of Burg Stahleck from the town of Bacharach.

Nearby: Bacharach, just down the hill from the castle, is a great place to launch your Rhine River adventures. In Bacharach, you can rent bikes for the day and pedal up and down the river to see other towns and castles. While I visited Burg Stahleck, we went up and down the river by boat and by train, stopping in towns to sightsee and visit some of the coolest castles.

Location: Burg Stahleck is above the town of Bacharach along the Rhine River. Bachacach is easily accessible by train from several of larger cities in Germany. Burg Stahleck is located several hundred steps above the town center (about a 20-minute walk up), but if you plan accordingly, a bus occasionally goes from town up the hill.

Accommodation details: Dorm prices begin at €20 and include clean sheets and breakfast. Half- and full-board options are available for an additional fee. Family rooms are also available. Wi-Fi and computers are also available.

Further reading:

• For more information on staying at Burg Stahleck, visit its page on the Hosteling International website here.
• For more information on the fascinating history of Burg Stahleck, visit the comprehensive Wikipedia entry on the castle here.
• For more information on visiting Germany’s Rhine region, check out the Lonely Planet or Rick Steves websites.

The Second World War, as the name suggests, had a huge impact on many places around the globe. Here are three sites that played pivotal roles in the war, and which are now memorials and museums. If you think of any other places to include, write them in the comments!

Wikimedia Commons

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Hiroshima, Japan): Also known as the A-Bomb Dome, his UNESCO World Heritage Site is a memorial to the 70,000 people who died on Aug. 6, 1945 when the first atomic bomb was detonated almost directly above the dome. The dome was the Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. Now, the sight is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which memorializes the victims of the attack and promotes world peace. The nearby Peace Memorial Museum examines Hiroshima before and after the attack. Several other memorials are also in the area.

Photo by Tristan Nitot

Normandy Beaches (Normandy, France): Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, a day that would become a turning point in the war in Europe. The area is now dotted with memorials, cemeteries and remnants of the battle. The Caen Memorial is a memorial and museum dedicated to 20^th century history. Arromanches 360˚ is a theater built for the 50^th anniversary of D-Day and is a circular cinema that shows unedited archival footage of the invasion. Tours run along the beaches and stop at many of the cemeteries and memorials in the area.

Photo from the US Navy

Pearl Harbor (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA): On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan attacked a U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, killing more than 2,000 men and prompting America to enter the second World War. Now, more than one and a half million visitors go to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial on O’ahu. The Memorial Visitor Center has 75-minute tours and information about the attack and its impact. A USS Missouri Memorial was also opened in 1999.

My favorite small town is St. Francisville, Louisiana – a unique, historic southern town with more than its share of plantations and antique shops.

Budget Travel is accepting its annual nominees for Coolest Small Towns in America, so it’s time to nominate your favorite small town! (Nominate here).

Small towns are great places to visit – they’re charming, walkable (usually), and each has its own unique characteristic that makes it really memorable. If I were to nominate a small town, I’d choose St. Francisville, Louisiana. I lived in St. Francisville for my first two years living in Louisiana, and that town taught me an important lesson – that I’m a city girl at heart. But I also learned to appreciate small towns. That small-town charm people talk about? It exists, and each town has a different flavor.

Rosedown is a classic-style plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana.

So let me tell you about St. Francisville. It is about 45 minutes north of Baton Rouge and about 20 miles south of the Mississippi border. The parish in which it is located – West Feliciana – is one of the few hilly regions in Louisiana (and I use the term ‘hilly’ loosely). During the pre-Civil War era, West Feliciana was plantation country, and the main crop was cotton. Those plantation houses still exist, and many of them are available to visit. Some of the plantations in the St. Francisville area are the classic Rosedown Plantation, the unique Oakley Plantation (John James Audubon stayed here for a few months in 1821), and the Myrtles Plantation, supposedly one of the most haunted sites in the United States.

Grandmother's Buttons is a cute, quirky gift shop just off of St. Francisville's main street.

In St. Francisville’s town center, you can find antique shops and gift shops. My favorites are Sage Hill and Grandmother’s Buttons, where you can find all sorts of unique Louisiana finds, ranging from clothing and jewelry to books and Christmas ornaments. (I especially love Christmas shopping in St. Francisville.)

Just off of St. Francisville’s main street is a great walking loop where visitors can see some great historic homes. While you’re in the area, stop by Grace Church and its cemetery to get pictures of Spanish moss draped over 19th century headstones.

And don’t think that because you’re in a small town, you won’t find any nightlife. The Magnolia Café offers live music most weekends, served with classic Cajun cuisine (as well as hamburgers and pizza). The Blue Room next door is a great place for post-dinner drinks. If you’re looking for fine dining, check out the Oxbow Restaurant or the Myrtles Plantation. For breakfast or lunch, I love the Audubon Café. Locals get their coffee at Birdman Books, which, as the name implies, also has a small selection of books for sale.

I may be a city girl at heart, but that doesn’t mean I don’t long for quiet country charm. I’ll be nominating St. Francisville as my coolest small town…what about you?

Iceland is dangerous and dynamic, hot as fire and cold as ice – a place that sounds more like the stuff of dreams than of reality. 

Gígjökull is an outlet glacier extending from Eyjafjallajökull, an active volcano that disrupted air traffic in Europe last year when it spewed gas into the atmosphere.. (Photo by Andreas Tille)

Before last summer, I had only a passing interest in Iceland. It was a geologically active land that actually has less ice than the name implies. But last summer, my dad and I flew on Icelandair from Boston to Paris, via Reykjavik, and my interest was piqued.

Icelandair does a great job promoting its country. We chose the airline because it was the cheapest we found. But it turned out to be a cultural experience I wasn’t expecting. The in-flight magazine was filled with beautiful pictures and fascinating facts (People are listed in the telephone book by their first name! The majority of residents believe in huldufolk, or hidden people!).

On top of that, we got to enjoy Icelandic entertainment – I was surprised to discover that this country of only 300,000 people has several original television programs, a couple of which I watched. On the way to Iceland from Boston, we sat next to an Icelandic woman who was returning to her home in Reykjavik after a months-long motorcycle journey across the United States. She told us all about her home country – about its politics, industry and geography.

So now I really, really want to go to Iceland (and not just for a 45 minute stopover).

Nearly half of the Icelandic population (about 120,000 people) lives in its capital city, Reykjavik. The city is a unique mix of modern architecture and traditional buildings with brightly colored roofs. The National Museum provides a look at the history and culture of the country, giving insight into the settlement of Iceland by Norwegians in the 9^th century and the way of life of people in the centuries to follow. The Reykjavik Art Museum is housed across three buildings and contains a collection of contemporary paintings, photography, sculpture, and other pieces. Reykjavik also has a lively nightlife scene and diverse food options, ranging from traditional Icelandic fare to pizza and Thai food.

Reykjavik's iconic colored roofs are seen here in a view from the Hallgrimskirkja church tower. (Photo by Andreas Tille)

While Reykjavik has a lot going on, you’re missing much of the fun and most of the natural beauty if you don’t venture out of the city. Iceland is geologically young, and therefore very geologically exciting. You’ll find active volcanoes, geysers, and thermal pools. Blue Lagoon, about a 40-minute drive from central Reykjavik, is the most popular thermal pool (really, it’s a spa) among travelers. In addition to relaxing in the pool, visitors can enjoy a sauna, refresh under a waterfall, and enjoy a variety of spa treatments.

For more natural beauty, visitors can see Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was the site of the parliament from 930 until 1789. Thingvellir is also the location of a rift valley that marks the continental drift area between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The nearby Gullfoss waterfall that is remarkable because of the way it falls into a crevice – like it is vanishing into the earth. Popular tours connect Thingvellir, Gullfoss and other nearby geological attractions, such as the geysers of Haukadalur geothermal area.

Iceland's 800-mile Ring Road connects all the coastal cities and towns. (CIA Factbook)

A good way to see some of Iceland’s smaller towns is to rent a car and spend a few days road tripping on Route 1, also known as the Ring Road, which traces the coast of the island. The highway connects all the major population centers of the country. Much of the interior of Iceland is uninhabited, or accessible only by unpaved roads. Route 1 is about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) long.

There are, of course, a million other things to do in Iceland, including seeing the Northern Lights (between November and March), glacial trekking and whale watching.

Icelandair has this really nifty stopover program that allows you to make as much as a week-long stopover in Reykjavik at no extra charge. So even if you don’t want to plan a trip only to Iceland, you can take advantage of the program en route from North America to any of the approximately two-dozen European cities Icelandair serves.

What to eat: If you’re looking for traditional Icelandic fare, get ready for an adventure. Some of the country’s specialties include shark, lamb scrota and black pudding. You’ll find lots of seafood, dairy products and lamb. But Iceland, and especially Reykjavik, is very cosmopolitan, so you can find whatever you’re in the mood for, be it pasta or pad thai.

Where to stay: Backpackers and budget travelers are in luck – Iceland has dozens of hostels spread out over the island. In Reykjavik, Hostel World’s top-rated accommodations are Reykjavik Backpackers, Reykjavik Downtown Hostel, and Reykjavik City Hostel, all located in the city center. If you’re planning on spending some nights elsewhere on the island, consider staying in one of Iceland’s many farmhouses; for more information on farm accommodations, visit Icelandic Farm Holidays.

For more information on traveling to Iceland, check out these sites:

• Lonely Planet Iceland
• Icelandair
• Visit Iceland

Castles are not an uncommon sight in many parts of the world; in France, you’ll find them dotting the countryside. Germany’s Rhine River is speckled with the former holdings of the robber-barons of old. You can find castles in Romania, Italy, England, and…Arkansas?

Yes, you read that right. Solagne and Jean-Marc Mirat, a French couple who moved to the United States 20 years ago, are spearheading a project to build a 13th-century style castle in Arkansas’s Ozark Mountains. The Mirats contacted Michel Guyot, who worked on a similar project in France’s Burgundy region, to oversee the construction.

Ground was broken on the project in 2009. Since then, 30 authentically dressed masons, carpenters and stone carvers have been working – in true 13th-century style – to construct the medieval fortress. And they aren’t cutting any corners; they’ve got horse-drawn wagons and chisels, even a human-powered treadwheel crane to lift and lower materials. Accordingly, the castle won’t be completed until 2030, but it’s open to the public (for a rate of $18) during construction. To ensure authenticity, the architectural team is working with historians and scientists at each step of the way.

The fortress is meant to be authentic historical and educational experience. The workers spend part of their day addressing visitors’ questions, and there are interpretive programs and tours available. The project is only a couple years into construction, so it doesn’t look like much more than a few stacks of bricks, but when it’s completed, it will be America’s first medieval fortress.

You can read more about the Ozark Medieval Fortress, including some of the unique and authentic methods being used in construction, at ozarkmedievalfortress.com.