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Let there be lights!

  Cities and towns across the globe have illuminated and unveiled decorations in anticipation of the holidays.

Image: Deep powder at Heavenly Ski Resort
Corey Rich / Courtesy of Heavenly Ski Resort
Hitting the slopes

  See some of the most popular snowy playgrounds in America — and beyond.

  Photos of the year
Image: Fireworks light the biggest floating Christmas tree in the world
Antonio Scorza / AFP - Getty Images
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Tropical Destinations

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Image: Waimea Canyon, Kauai
John Borthwick / Lonely Planet Images
Hawaiian paradise

The Hawaiian Islands are the perfect vacation destination for travelers of all types.

Image: The Pitons seen from Anse Chastanet
Holger Leue
Francisco Turnes
Green Sea Turtle Swimming
Ralph A. Clevenger / Corbis
Lucy Pemoni / AP
Image: Waimea Canyon, Kauai
John Borthwick / Lonely Planet Images
Lounge Chairs on Beach at Club Med
Macduff Everton / © Macduff Everton/CORBIS
Mexico - Refurbished Centro District
Janet Jarman / Corbis
Terry Prichard / AP
Hissham D. Ibrahim / Getty Images

Europe

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Image: The Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur) is seen in Paris
Benoit Tessier / Reuters
Perfectly Paris

A magical city known as the ‘City of Love’ and the ‘City of Light’, Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world – and a city full of amazing architecture, world-class art, museums, gardens and parks.

Athens, Greece
Julian Finney / Getty Images
Tourist walk through the Alhambra palace
Jose Luis Roca / AFP - Getty Images
Peter Morrison / AP
Festival of lights to take place in Berlin
Rainer Jensen / EPA
BUSH AHERN
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
Blue mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
Herbert Spichtinger / Corbis
<David> by Michelangelo at the Galleria dell'Accademia
Stefano Amantini / Corbis
Excursion Boat on Neva River
Charles O'rear / © Charles O'Rear/CORBIS
AP
Alvaro Barrientos / AP
Festival Participant
Keren Su / © Keren Su/Corbis
Gare do Oriente Rail Station
Guido Cozzi / Corbis

Asia

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Image: A dragon-shaped lantern is lit up in a lake at a temple fair in Kunming
Reuters
Year of the Ox

China rang in the Lunar New Year with performances, street fairs and a host of other celebrations.

Rajasthani artisans play music at the Patwa Haveli at Jaisalmer
Vijay Mathur / Reuters
Image: Chinese security officer stand guards
Teh Eng Koon / AFP - Getty Images
An elephant strolls on a foggy morning in New Delhi
Kamal Kishore / © KAMAL KISHORE/Reuters/Corbis
Tourists Visiting the Gate of Heavenly Peace
Christophe Boisvieux / Corbis
Tourists Visiting Wat Phra Kaeo
Redlink - Corbis
Geisha in the Gion District
Corbis
Elizabeth Dalziel / AP
Tokyo's famous landscape Sensoji-temple
Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP/Getty Images
Typhoon Matsa Hits China's East Coast
China Photos / Getty Images
AN ELEVATED VIEW OF MAIN DAM OF THREE GORGES PROJECT NEAR YICHANG
China Photo Via Reuters
UNDESCRIBED SPECIES
Stephen Richards / AP

South America

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    A reveler of Grande Rio samba school per
    Antonio Scorza / AFP/Getty Images
    Rio grand

    The 2016 Summer Olympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro, marking the first time a South American destination will host the Games. Take a visual tour of the Brazilian city's beautiful beaches, landscapes and people.

    Couple Tango Dancing
    Sergio Pitamitz / © Sergio Pitamitz/CORBIS
    Peru - Lima - Paragliding
    Diego Giudice / © Diego Giudice/Corbis
    Haroldo Castro / John Martin
    Victor Caivano / AP

    U.S. West Coast

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    Image:
    What’s new in Las Vegas

    In Sin City, there’s always something making headlines — and something else waiting in the wings to steal its thunder. Here’s a look at what is new or soon to debut in Las Vegas. By Rob Lovitt

    Image: Mount Rainier National Park
    Lonely Planet Images
    Image: Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland
    Paul Hiffmeyer / Disneyland
    Grand Canyon
    Peter Essick
    Tim Thompson
    Alpenglow on a Snow Covered Mountain
    Steve Terrill / Corbis
    Las Vegas Strip Exteriors
    Ethan Miller / Getty Images
    Las Vegas Hotels And Casinos
    Robert Mora / Getty Images
    Michael Tweed / AP
    Bald Eagle Diving
    Ron Sanford / Corbis
    John Brecher
    Suicide Film Renews Calls For Golden Gate Bridge Barriers
    Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
    San Diego Convention & Visitors

    U.S. Midwest

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    Charles Rex Arbogast / AP file
    Going for the gold

    Chicago was unsuccessful in its bid to host the 2016 Summer Games, but the Windy City still has plenty to offer to visitors from around the world.

    Memphis Convention Visitors Bu
    San Antonio Convention Visitor
    Timothy Hursley / via Nashville Convention & Visit
    USA - New Orleans - Mardi Gras 2006
    Lucas Jackson / © LUCAS JACKSON/Reuters/Corbis
    Jennifer Jones
    Bill Haber / AP
    New Orleans Celebrates Mardi Gras
    Chris Graythen / Getty Images
    St. Louis Convention Visitors
    Metrodome at Night
    Richard Hamilton Smith / Corbis
    JOE LOUIS FIST DETROIT
    Carlos Osorio / AP
    The interior of the Johnson Space Center
    Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

    U.S. East Coast

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    Obama Family To Spend Summer Vacation On Martha's Vineyard
    Win Mcnamee / Getty Images
    Welcome to Martha’s Vineyard

    President Barack Obama and his family spent some of their summer vacation at Martha's Vineyard. Take visual tour of some of the island’s better-known draws.

    Image: The Empire State Building at night
    Dave Etheridge-Barnes / Getty Images
    Image: Hidden Chinatown
    Kathy Willens / AP
    Seth Wenig / AP
    Jakemcguire.com Via Www.washingt / JakeMcGuire.com
    U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Prepares To Open To Public
    Alex Wong / Getty Images
    Julia Malakie / AP
    Photo dated 12 September, 2001 shows visitors to t
    Tom Mihalek / AFP/Getty Images
    Pink Vintage Car in Art Deco District
    Corbis
    Dave Cross / AP
    World?s Largest Aquarium Set To Open
    Barry Williams / Getty Images
    J. Pat Carter / AP

    Canada, Australia & New Zealand

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    William West / AFP
    Australia: Great southern land

    From the majestic opera house to the rugged outback, explore and experience Australia.

    newzealand.com
    Edwin Llobrera / AP
    Image: Vancouver
    Albert Normandin / Tourism British Columbia via AP
    Gare du Palais Fountain in Quebec City
    Nik Wheeler / Corbis
    Toronto Skyline
    Corbis

    Africa & Middle East

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    Image: The Great Sphinx of Giza
    Cris Bouroncle / AFP - Getty Images
    The treasures of Egypt

    Explore a wealth of history and mystery in and around Cairo, the heart of Egypt.

    Views Of Cape Town
    David Rogers / Getty Images
    Themba Hadebe / AP
    Blue mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
    Herbert Spichtinger / Corbis
    Image: Socotra, Yemen
    Khaled Abdullah / Reuters
    Eddie Adams / AP
    Jessica Dimmock/vii Network / Jessica Dimmock/VII Network
    Image: Jean-Pierre Kalikunshe sits on a bed at the Heal Africa hospital in Goma in eastern Congo
    Finbarr O'reilly / Reuters
    Schalk Van Zuydam / AP
    Jerome Delay / AP

    Global & Seasonal

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    Image: Christmas Lights in Barcelona
    Julian Martin / EPA
    Let there be lights!

    Cities and towns across the globe have illuminated and unveiled decorations in anticipation of the upcoming holidays.

    Image: Oasis of the Seas
    Hans Deryk / ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Image: Reflection of Autumn Trees in Vltava River
    Filip Singer / EPA
    Image: Bay of Fundy
    Lonely Planet
    Koya-san World Heritage Site
    Everett Kennedy Brown / EPA
    Matt Dunham / AP
    File photo of a visitor taking a picture near the Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra
    Ahmad Masood / Reuters
    Image: Taj Mahal
    Prakash Singh / AFP/Getty Images
    Muhammed Muheisen / AP
    Base of the Eiffel Tower in Red Light
    Owen Franken / Corbis
    AP
    Jack Nicklaus
    Jeff Gross / Getty Images
    Revellers from Salgueiro samba school dance during the second night of the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome
    Sergio Moraes / Reuters
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