I thought I knew about D-Day until I stood at the American Cemetery looking down at Omaha Beach. The distance those soldiers climbed under fire seemed impossible. Visiting Normandy on a Seine River cruise brings history to life in a way that books and documentaries never could.

I've visited Kinderdijk twice, and it remains one of the most serene places I know. These 18th-century Dutch windmills still pump water today, their sails turning rhythmically in the breeze. Whether you bike, walk, or just listen, Kinderdijk touches your soul in unexpected ways.