Some of the best places to vacation are those that appeal to history buffs.

These places are special and possess a certain magic that is particular to places we remember not only for their inherent characteristics, but also for the amazing things that occurred there!

10. Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg is lovely vacation spot that will not only stimulate your senses, with its beautiful flowers and lovely summer weather, but also stir your patriotism. Here you will see people living life as colonists did, all on display. There is also a Busch Gardens location in Williamsburg, full of thrilling rides and interesting attractions.

9. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg is, of course, a must see for civil war history buffs. With regular reenactments of both the battle and Lincoln’s famous speech, Gettysburg will immerse you in the thrilling tale of the war that nearly tore our young nation asunder.

8. San Antonio, Texas

Remember the Alamo? You bet they do in San Antonio! Today you can still see the eighteenth century Spanish mission, well preserved and offering guided tours. There’s also a famous river-walk along the San Antonio River which provides the opportunity to soak up the rich natural beauty of Texas. Also, don’t miss out on the natural bridge caverns.

7. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is certainly not a one note town. There are houses and historical sights which have stood since the mid seventeenth century. There are sights commemorating civil rights movement highlights. Charleston is also famous for its great restaurants serving up soul food, fried seafood, and other highlights of southern cuisine.

6. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is great city for architecture buffs, boasting everything from antebellum mansions to Romanesque revival structures listed on the national register of historic places. Savannah is also home to great artistic sites of interest including the world-renowned Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art and the Telfair Museum.

5. New York, New York

New York City is not only the America’s cultural and industrial hot spot, but also a city full of historical highlights. You can’t cross a street in New York City without hitting a historical landmark. In Brooklyn and Queens, you can visit the parks where early hip hop MCs started out, you can see the Statue of Liberty, and even take pictures from the top of the Empire State Building. Really, there’s no wrong way to go in New York. Eat at a great restaurant, take in the famous stores and enjoy the rest of the city, too.

4. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a complex of Buddhist temples in Cambodia that has long been a popular destination of ancient history buffs and people of the Buddhist faith. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple in the twelfth century A.D. and still stands today, in amazingly pristine condition. Visitors tend to lodge in the nearby city of Angkor and divide touring the complex over several days as it is quite large, and there is quite a bit of history to absorb.

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan Citadel located in Urubama Provence of Peru. It is a great place to tour ancient ruins, enjoy the fresh air of the Peruvian mountains and soak in some of the local flavor. It contains well preserved examples of the ancient Incan’s living conditions, folkways, and agricultural practices.

2. Athens, Greece

Athens is perfect example of living, breathing, thriving Mediterranean history. Being the capital city of Greece, it has all the contemporary art and culture that a modern city has to offer, along with ruins of the ancient Greek civilization that proceeded the modern iteration. You can visit such historical sights as the Parthenon during the day and enjoy all the bustling nightlife of a capital city at night!

1. Rome, Italy

Rome is a city that holds no small amount of promise for any traveler. You’ve of course heard of the Colosseum, the baths of Caracalla, and their famous national museum. Believe it or not there’s even more to Rome than that, in fact there’s way too much to list here. Frankly, you should go see it for yourself.

This list ought to give you some inspiration to start your personal, hands-on exploration into the fascinating past of human civilization. Time to get out there and start crossing some places off the old bucket list!

by Catalogs.com Info Guru Lauren DeJesus-Glasgow