There are so many wine regions to explore beyond the ones that are household names.

READ: 10 Unexpected Wine Destinations Around the World

Cape Town is a modern, worldly city with an appeal that keeps visitors coming back again and again. While there are many Cape Town attractions to fill your days, it’s also a great city for just living in the moment. There are so many great things to do in Cape Town that you could easily spend a week and only begin to scratch the surface!

READ: Top Cape Town Attractions to Explore

Splashed in every shade of blue under the sun, Chefchaouen, Morocco, seems tailor-made for photographers.

READ: 20 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Chefchaouen

There are certain places that come to mind when you think of the Roman Empire. Rome, maybe the South of France, or elsewhere in Western Europe. But not Morocco.

READ: A Visit to the Ancient Roman Ruins of Volubilis

Traveling to Morocco is exciting and thought-provoking, but it's not without challenges. See our advice for getting the most out of your trip to this beautiful country.

READ: 30 Tips to Know Before Traveling to Morocco

An evening with Marrakech Food Tours introduced us to so much traditional Moroccan food that we wouldn’t have found without help.

READ: Eating Like a Local on a Marrakech Food Tour

When I first saw a photo of the gorgeous white and blue city, I wanted to visit immediately, long before I knew anything else about Chefchaouen, Morocco…including its name.

READ: The Reality of Chefchaouen–Morocco’s Blue City

Everything we learned about the company who provided the elephant rides put our minds at ease. We thought we knew everything we needed to know. We were wrong.

READ: Why I Rode an Elephant but Will Never Do It Again

The blackness swallowed us as we descended down into the earth. We carried lights, but the darkness encroached on us from all sides. The gentle scuffling of feet on the gravel, an occasional soft trickle of water in the abyss and our own breathing were the only sounds. These are the Sterkfontein Caves inside the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

READ: Defining Humanity at the Cradle of Humankind

South Africa’s southern coast is a wind battered land. Low, scrubby bushes (fynboos) with small leaves dot the coastal land of the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. Hearty milkwood trees, some growing for over 1,000 years, provide isolated cover. From a distance, this is a barren land. But up close, the hillsides are exploding with plant and animal life. We rode out a violent storm from Antarctica here in complete luxury at the Grootbos Garden Lodge.

READ: Finding Sanctuary During a Storm at the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

The Lawhill Luxury Apartments in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa

READ: Our First Experience in a Vacation Rental Apartment: Lawhill Luxury Apartments

South African wines leave some people salivating and some scratching their heads. For years, South African wine was essentially limited to the domestic market due to international boycotts. Those days are long gone. Now, oenophiles far and wide are recognizing the superiority of wines from the Rainbow Nation – exciting things are happening in the South Africa wine region!

READ: Exploring the Tempting South Africa Wine Region

Experiencing a typical day on safari in Africa. We visit nThambo Tree Camp for the utmost in eco-friendly luxury, with tranquility and relaxation guaranteed.

READ: Enjoying the Eco-Friendly nThambo Tree Camp

One of the great day trips from Cape Town, South Africa is the magnificent Cape Point Route. This is also one of the most remarkable drives anywhere in the world and features steep cliffs, stunning vistas and plenty of sightseeing opportunities!

READ: The Rugged Beauty of the Cape Point Route

The roar was deafening – and we were still almost a half mile away from the falls. In the local language, they are called Mosi-oa-Tunya or “smoke that thunders” – which is a pretty accurate description of the Victoria Falls Livingstone side!

READ: Victoria Falls is Gorges (and Wet)!

Words simply cannot do justice to the beauty of watching the sunset over Sentinel peak, while listening to the waves crash at your feet. Tintswalo Atlantic stimulates your senses and massages your soul!

READ: Regain Your Senses at Tintswalo Atlantic Cape Town

The Islands of Siankaba is one of the most luxurious properties near Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia. The place for romance and total relaxation. If there was ever a place to go and get away from it all, this is it!

READ: Total Relaxation at the Islands of Siankaba

South African wines are some of the best in the world. And many of the best South African wines come from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley outside of Hermanus. Hemel-en-Aarde means “heaven on earth” in Afrikaans and we can attest to the fact that this is not an embellishment. We visited Creation Wines to taste the distinctively elegant wines that come from the terroir of heaven on earth.

READ: The Distinctive Tastes of Creation Wines

Long before the days of Land Rovers with padded seats, Africa was experienced on foot. Men would hike for days or weeks deep into “The Bush” for close encounters with fearsome beasts. The animals of the Big Five received that honor because they were the most dangerous to hunt on foot. Today, by leaving the safety of the vehicle and experiencing Africa on foot, we can replicate some of that experience and appreciate the bush the way it was meant to be – up close and personal, with elements of thrill and danger.

READ: Experience Africa on Foot – A Safari Adventure

At the top of many people’s bucket lists is going on safari in Africa. Planning a South Africa safari can be a daunting experience that is confusing, expensive and time-consuming. But it doesn't have to be!

READ: How to Plan a South Africa Safari

Many people who go to Africa are focused on Big Five safari. And it's true that each of the animals are amazing to see. However, during our safari experience, we were surprised that the animals were just one part of an amazing journey.

READ: Fulfilling a Dream – An African Big Five Safari

It has been three years since the Arab Spring came to Egypt on January 25, 2011. We watched the events of those days unfold with rapt attention as we wondered if our planned trip only four months away would be possible at all.

READ: Reflecting on our Trip to Post-Revolutionary Egypt

Our Middle East adventure continued with a planned day of scuba diving in the Red Sea near Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Sharm el-Sheikh was a sleepy …

READ: Scuba Diving in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

The Coptic (Christian) area of Cairo has been peppered with violence over the last several years as locals continue to play out religious conflicts in …

READ: Coptic Cairo and Islamic Cairo, Egypt

We awoke early again this morning to head straight to the Queen Hatshepsut Temple before it got too hot. The multi-tiered temple is absolutely imposing …

READ: Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and The Valley of the Kings

The neighboring Karnak and Luxor Temples are filled with unique statues and carvings that convey the glory of ancient Egypt.

READ: The Temple Sites of Karnak and Luxor in Egypt

We woke up at about 3:30am and left the boat by 4:00am for our hot air balloon ride in Egypt. We had spent a lot …

READ: Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Luxor, Egypt

Edfu Temple is characterized by its amazing reliefs that soar into the sky and its in tact roof, which has kept some colors vibrant.

READ: Edfu Temple and Nile River Cruise

Of all the Egyptian Pharaonic temples, none has a more impressive setting than the Kom Ombo Temple. Located literally on the bank of the Nile …

READ: Experience a Sunset Visit to Egypt’s Kom Ombo Temple

Any visit to Abu Simbel would be spectacular. But being alone (or nearly alone) at the site was an experience in itself.

READ: Completely Alone at Abu Simbel in Nubia, Egypt

Intricate, massive carvings made our first temple visit of the trip an impressive stop.

READ: A Day at Philae Temple and a Nubian Experience

Our first full day in Egypt gave us the chance to have one of the coolest experiences we’ve ever had — standing in front of …

READ: The Great Pyramid of Giza and the Panoramic Views

A day trip from Tarifa, Spain, to Tangier, Morocco, was our first opportunity to step foot on the African continent. The hustle and bustle of this coastal city did not disappoint.

READ: Day Trip to Tangier, Morocco