Quinn Mercer articles

For many travelers, winter is when certain destinations feel their most magical, offering everything from sleigh rides and ski slopes to cozy pubs, frozen lakes, and centuries-old seasonal traditions. Drawing from traveler reviews, global winter tourism rankings, and cities that consistently top cold-weather bucket lists, here’s our countdown of the 20 best winter holiday cities in the world.

Off the western coast of Sicily, near the Egadi Islands, divers have pulled up something extraordinary: a bronze helmet that likely belonged to a warrior who fought in one of the most decisive naval battles of the ancient world. This helmet, dating back to the 241 BC Battle of the Egadi Islands, isn’t just another relic; it’s a tangible link to the chaotic, bloody final clash that ended the First Punic War and changed the course of Mediterranean history.

In the ancient Macedonian city of Aegae, workers hit the façade of a sealed chamber tomb that turned out to be about 2,300 years old. Archaeologists were called in and carefully opened a doorway that had been deliberately blocked with stones. Inside was a compact, lavishly painted room—and a story about Hellenistic high society waiting to be told.

Every country has its ghost stories, but America’s are uniquely woven into the nation’s history: tales of Civil War battlefields, colonial cemeteries, and creaky hotels where guests sometimes check in but never leave. From Salem’s witch-trial echoes to the restless soldiers of Gettysburg, here are 20 haunted cities that keep the spirit world close.

In 2024 archaeologists in Split, Croatia, made a shocking discovery of a subterranean passageway leading into the cellars of Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace.

For the first time, researchers have carried out a genome-wide analysis of the DNA of those who lived, worked, and died at the incredible Inca mountaintop site of Machu Picchu.

There’s nothing like the energy of live music, standing in a packed crowd, hearing your favorite song played right in front of you, and feeling the bass in your chest. But not all cities are created equal when it comes to live shows. Using data on the number of live music venues and the volume of concerts hosted each year, we’ve ranked the top 25 cities in the world for live music.

Coffee isn’t just a morning ritual—it’s a culture, a community, and in some cities, an art form. Across the US, entire neighborhoods revolve around quirky cafés, world-class roasters, and experimental brews that push the boundaries of what coffee can be. Here are the 20 cities with the best coffee scenes, according to locals.