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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
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
AFP - Getty Images
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Tropical Destinations

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Image: Waimea Canyon, Kauai
Lonely Planet Images
Hawaiian paradise

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

Green Sea Turtle Swimming
Corbis
AP
Image: Waimea Canyon, Kauai
Lonely Planet Images
Lounge Chairs on Beach at Club Med
© Macduff Everton/CORBIS
Mexico - Refurbished Centro District
Corbis
AP
Getty Images

Europe

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Image: The Sacred Heart (Sacre Coeur) is seen in Paris
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
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Tourist walk through the Alhambra palace
AFP - Getty Images
AP
Festival of lights to take place in Berlin
EPA
BUSH AHERN
AP
Blue mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
Corbis
<David> by Michelangelo at the Galleria dell'Accademia
Corbis
Excursion Boat on Neva River
© Charles O'Rear/CORBIS
AP
Festival Participant
© Keren Su/Corbis
Gare do Oriente Rail Station
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
Reuters
Image:  Chinese security officer stand guards
AFP - Getty Images
An elephant strolls on a foggy morning in New Delhi
© KAMAL KISHORE/Reuters/Corbis
Tourists Visiting the Gate of Heavenly Peace
Corbis
Tourists Visiting Wat Phra Kaeo
Redlink - Corbis
AP
Tokyo's famous landscape Sensoji-temple
AFP/Getty Images
Typhoon Matsa Hits China's East Coast
Getty Images
AN ELEVATED VIEW OF MAIN DAM OF THREE GORGES PROJECT NEAR YICHANG
UNDESCRIBED SPECIES
AP

South America

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    A reveler of Grande Rio samba school per
    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/CORBIS
    Peru - Lima - Paragliding
    © Diego Giudice/Corbis
    John Martin
    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
    Disneyland
    Alpenglow on a Snow Covered Mountain
    Corbis
    Las Vegas Strip Exteriors
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    Las Vegas Hotels And Casinos
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    AP
    Bald Eagle Diving
    Corbis
    Suicide Film Renews Calls For Golden Gate Bridge Barriers
    Getty Images
    San Diego Convention & Visitors

    U.S. Midwest

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    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.

    via Nashville Convention & Visit
    USA - New Orleans - Mardi Gras 2006
    © LUCAS JACKSON/Reuters/Corbis
    Jennifer Jones
    AP
    New Orleans Celebrates Mardi Gras
    Getty Images
    Metrodome at Night
    Corbis
    The interior of the Johnson Space Center
    Getty Images

    U.S. East Coast

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    Obama Family To Spend Summer Vacation On Martha's Vineyard
    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
    Getty Images
    Image: Hidden Chinatown
    AP
    JakeMcGuire.com
    U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Prepares To Open To Public
    Getty Images
    AP
    Photo dated 12 September, 2001 shows visitors to t
    AFP/Getty Images
    AP
    World?s Largest Aquarium Set To Open
    Getty Images
    AP

    Canada, Australia & New Zealand

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    AFP
    Australia: Great southern land

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

    AP
    Image: Vancouver
    Tourism British Columbia via AP

    Africa & Middle East

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    Image: The Great Sphinx of Giza
    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
    Getty Images
    AP
    Blue mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
    Corbis
    Image: Socotra, Yemen
    Reuters
    Jessica Dimmock/VII Network
    Image: Jean-Pierre Kalikunshe sits on a bed at the Heal Africa hospital in Goma in eastern Congo
    Reuters
    AP

    Global & Seasonal

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    Image: Christmas Lights in Barcelona
    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
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
    Image: Reflection of Autumn Trees in Vltava River
    EPA
    Image: Bay of Fundy
    Lonely Planet
    Koya-san World Heritage Site
    EPA
    AP
    File photo of a visitor taking a picture near the Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra
    Reuters
    Image: Taj Mahal
    AFP/Getty Images
    AP
    Base of the Eiffel Tower in Red Light
    Corbis
    Jack Nicklaus
    Getty Images
    Revellers from Salgueiro samba school dance during the second night of the Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome
    Reuters
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