Mount Rushmore was originally conceived of as a way to boost tourism to South Dakota’s Black Hills region. And with over two million people visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial each year, the effort
Often touted as one of the top things to do in South Dakota’s Black Hills region, the Crazy Horse Memorial has been a work in progress since 1948, and it was initiated in
The various towns surrounding Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán are often said to have their own distinct atmospheres and personalities. But none of them can claim to be as colorful as Santa Catarina Palopó. Located
As with nearby Guanajuato and San Luis Potosí, the city of Zacatecas grew immensely wealthy as a mining town, with much of that wealth being reinvested into beautiful buildings. As we’ll cover in
Located in the state of Tlaxcala, the sister sites of Cacaxtla and Xochitécatl are an easy day trip from Puebla. Visitors to the region with the slightest interest in Mesoamerican art or history shouldn’t miss
When one thinks of the Olmecs, the massive stone heads found in states like Tabasco and Veracruz typically come to mind. But while the largest Olmec cities were indeed located along Mexico’s Gulf
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés chose Cuernavaca as his base of operations, partly due to its central location. But, like the Aztec rulers before him, he surely enjoyed its mild year-round climate. And up
I hadn’t come to Oaxaca with the intention of focusing on its street art. Admittedly, after having created street art guides for numerous cities throughout the world, I largely lost interest in the
Whether you’re visiting ruins built by the Mayans, Zapotecs or Aztecs, you’re almost guaranteed to encounter things like pyramids, ball courts and hieroglyphic inscriptions. But where did this broader Mesoamerican culture originate? Based
The small and unassuming city of Tetovo, less than an hour from North Macedonia’s capital of Skopje, is home to two hidden gems that largely get overlooked by tourists. It doesn’t matter if
Gaziantep, with a population of nearly two million, is southeast Turkey’s largest city and among the largest in the country. Like many places in the region, it has a rich history dating back
Despite its gargantuan size, the Chronicle of Georgia monument remains off the radar for many Tbilisi visitors and residents alike. The modern art piece, created by renowned Georgian/Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli, is an
In many big cities throughout the world, public murals are seen as a way of beautifying dull and gray concrete jungles. But in southern Egypt’s Aswan, the colorful murals mesh beautifully with the
Abydos is perhaps Egypt’s most ancient necropolis, having been used for important burials since Predynastic times. The city was a popular pilgrimage spot for thousands of years, and pharaohs from all eras of Egyptian
Egyptian civilization persisted for thousands of years with its art and religion remaining largely unchanged. That is, except for one brief 17-year period in the 14th century BC. Had Pharaoh Akhenaten merely moved
The Georgian capital of Tbilisi is a city with ancient roots but one that’s also in the midst of some major transitions. Georgia’s creative scene has been slowly blossoming since the end of
When looking at the history and development of street art, it would be impossible to overlook New York City’s massive role. While public art, in the form of murals or sculptures, has been
Taking up over half a block along the bohemian South Street, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is immediately recognizable at a glance. The entire structure is covered in colorful mosaic tiles, appearing straight out of
Considering Philly’s rank as the fifth-largest city in the United States, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that it’s got an abundance of street art. But the Philadelphia street art scene has
As ‘street art tourism’ gains popularity around the world, St. Louis is fast becoming recognized as one of North America’s premier graffiti destinations. The ‘Gateway to the West’ has been hosting regular street
Theravada Buddhism, also known as “the way of the elders,” is often considered the most old-fashioned and conservative form of the religion. But over the past few decades, numerous temples in Thailand have
Kuching is a colorful place. Not only is it surrounded by lush greenery, but the cityscape is adorned with the bright pastel hues of old Chinese shophouses. And more recently, Kuching is becoming
Visitors flock to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to see its ancient temples, scenic mountains and maybe even ride some elephants. But not many realize that the city is becoming increasingly popular in Southeast Asia
Chiang Mai is one of Thailand’s most thriving creative hubs. The abundance of universities, along with the cheap rent and slow pace of living, have combined to make the Lanna capital an attractive
Everywhere you look, the Angkor temples are teeming with symbolism. Thanks to the master artists who constructed and carved the temples, the vivid imagery is bound to captivate even those with little knowledge
Saigon may not be the first city that springs to people’s minds when thinking of burgeoning arts scenes in Asia. And it may be true that the city lacks the number of art
The nostalgia industry is big these days. As our lives become increasingly focused on accomplishing tasks by tapping our thumbs against glass screens, more and more people are longing for the physical. It
The Mexico City street art scene is thriving nowadays, with the rest of the world beginning to take notice. But looking at the country’s history, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Bangkok is slowly emerging as a mecca for street art in Asia. Like in many other parts of the region, the art form has long been looked down upon and misunderstood by locals.
Entering the park, I gaped in awe at the towering, monolithic structures surrounding me. There weren’t only Buddhas, but giant Hindu deities and characters from the Indian epics as well. Not to mention
Taman Festival park was once a family-friendly spot packed with thrilling rides, a 3D cinema and laser shows. First opening its doors in 1997 in the popular beach town of Sanur, the park
The tropical island of Bali is not generally known for its street art, especially in comparison with other Indonesian regions like Yogyakarta. Balinese culture, of course, has historically placed a high value on
“Whatever you do, make it an offering to me.” – Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita (9:27) Offerings are everywhere in Bali. Visitors to the island often have a hard time not
Yogyakarta has long been Indonesia’s most important creative hub. Today, the city is one of the best places in all of Asia to experience contemporary art. Yogyakarta, also known as Jogja, has an
Yogyakarta, also referred to as Jogja, has long been a hub for culture and arts in Indonesia. Artists of all mediums and styles continue to flock to the city thanks to its creative
Chiang Rai, a small city of 70,000 people in the far north of Thailand, may not look especially unique at first glance. The city, however, happens to be the hometown of some of