Things to Do in Anaheim & Buena Park

The Tombs of the Nobles (or Valley of the Nobles) may lack the star power of the Valley of the Kings or other Luxor hot spots, but this lesser-visited gem is well worth the trip. A cemetery on a rare scale, the site features hundreds of tombs embedded in rock, often richly decorated with frescoes depicting the working lives of their inhabitants. The site is most often visited on day tours of Luxor's West Bank.

High on the Altiplano of Bolivia at over 13,000 feet, the ancient city of Tiwanaku sits like a frozen time capsule of Andean history. Not as famous and totally different than the neighboring ruins at Machu Picchu, Tiwanaku is a mysterious city lying windswept and haggard which has mystified scholars for multiple centuries.

The ruins are believed to be the ancient capital city of a Tiwanaku Empire which once stretched across Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and held over 100,000 inhabitants inside of its towering walls. Now this UNESCO World Heritage site is located about a 1.5-hour drive from the modern day capital city of La Paz and is reached by crossing the arid, frigid plains of the Bolivian highlands. Doable as a day trip from La Paz, the modern town of Tiwanaku also boasts modest accommodations for those wanting some extended exploration of the ruins. The reward for journeying to this remote part of the plains, however, is being able to wander among one of the most fascinating and mind-boggling sites in Latin America.

To the untrained eye, the ruins at Tiwanaku might be nothing more than some old stones set out in the dirt. To those who have been educated on the theories and history of the ancient Tiwanaku Empire, however, every turn in the ancient city unveils a new mystery for which scholars fail to find any answers. Given the high degree of knowledge needed to properly enjoy Tiwanaku, it’s recommended to visit either as part of a tour or hire a local and knowledgeable guide.

For example, many of the large stone slabs which are used in buildings such as the 50-foot-tall Akapana Pyramid, are not found anywhere else in the indigenous area. Furthermore, subterranean studies have shown that in areas such as Puma Punku there is evidence of underground, man-made structures which exist over six feet below the current surface of the Earth, a geological conundrum which confounds scholars as to how they could have gotten down there.

Undoubtedly one of the more magical - if not cold - spots in the surrounding La Paz area, traveling to Tiwanaku is a journey into a forgotten society for which more questions than answers tend to remain.

The Italian town of Tivoli, set just east of Rome, is home to beautiful residences, splendid villas, and two famous UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Renaissance palace of Villa d'Este, famous for its extravagant, 16th-century gardens and water fountains, and the ruins of Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana), the grand second-century estate of Emperor Hadrian of ancient Rome. A visit to both sites entails beautiful garden walks and a variety of ancient architectural styles—not to mention a quiet, elegant escape from the city and some of the best natural water in Italy.

The Basics
Departing from Rome, most Tivoli tours include visits to both Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa. Discover the favorite vacation spot of the Renaissance period at the famous Villa d'Este, commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito, and take in its highlights: the views from the Vialone Terrace and the movie-famous Oval Fountain and Hundred Fountains. At Hadrian's Villa, you'll tour the archaeological remains of temples, libraries, and thermal baths, including the Maritime Theater, set on a man-made island at the center of a round pool; the grand Piazza d'oro; the Imperial Palace; and the Canopus, a replica of the sanctuary of Serapis near Alexandria. Choose a half-day tour or full-day trip through the Lazio countryside with an expert tour guide to get the most out of your visit to the historic sites.

A sprawling archeological site spread along the southwestern coast of Cyprus, the Tombs of the Kings are one of the principal attractions of the Paphos UNESCO World Heritage site. A series of eight excavated tombs make up the site, which dates back to the 3rd century BC, and around 100 Ptolemaic aristocrats are estimated to have been buried there, along with a substantial trove of jewels and personal effects, long since pillaged by grave robbers.

Despite their name, the Tombs of the Kings boast no royal connections, instead earning their moniker thanks to their grand appearance, carved into the natural rock and adorned with elaborate frescos and fluted Doric Pillars. Today, the well-preserved necropolis remains impressive, with steps leading down into the sunken graves and the underground chambers pocked with niches, although only minimal traces of the original stuccos and colorful frescos remain. Exploring the numbered tombs also hints at the later use of the site, with one of the tombs converted into a chapel during early Christian occupation and evidence of pottery work indicating that the catacombs were later used as dwellings or workplaces during the Middle Ages.

The boy pharaoh Tutankhamun, who ruled the New Kingdom in the 14th century, enjoys fame disproportionate to his short reign and modest achievements. This is mostly due to the discovery of his largely intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922, his mummy adorned by a dazzling gold mask (now in Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, along with most of the tomb’s other bling).

Having risked the curse said to await anyone who disturbs the tomb’s rest, visitors may be slightly disappointed by its modest scale and relative lack of adornment. “King Tut” is, however, still in residence, his linen-wrapped mummy visible in a glass box watched over by richly colored wall paintings.

Athens' Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Mnēmeíon Agnōstou Stratiōtou) commemorates all those Greek soldiers who died in service of their country over its long history. Among its inscriptions are quotes from Pericles Funeral Oration as written by Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War : 'and one bed is carried empty / made for the unknown ones.' During major holidays, politicians and officials lay wreaths at the tomb.

The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day by the Presidential Guard (the Evzones). These are the hand-picked strongest men of the army - also the most handsome! Their traditional uniform features a skirt, stockings and pom-poms on their shoes, all of which makes the hourly Changing of the Guard ceremony even more worth seeing. On Sundays at 11am they stage an impressive full ceremony with formal uniform and an army band.

Take the short walk from Laudat to Titou Gorge and you’ll be rewarded by a deep pool warmed by a hot spring. A day hike to Boiling Lake begins at Titou Gorge, so you can begin or end the hike with a splash in the falls tumbling into the pool.

The Creole name means "Little Throat Hole," referring to the beautiful waterfall splashing into the gorge.