A fascinating picture of the American frontier emerges from Twain's fictionalized recollections of his experiences prospecting for gold, speculating in timber, and writing for a succession of small Western newspapers during the 1860s.

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No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic's travel writers, Journeys of a Lifetime spans the globe to highlight the best of the world's most famous and lesser known sojourns. It presents an incredible diversity of possibilities, from ocean cruises around Antarctica to horse treks in the Andes. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.

A timely resource for the burgeoning ranks of active travelers who crave adventurous and far-flung trips, Journeys of a Lifetime provides scores of creative ideas: trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania... mountain biking in Transylvania... driving through the scenic highlands of Scotland... or rolling through the outback on Australia's famous Ghan train... and dozens of other intriguing options all over the world.

Journeys of a Lifetime also features 22 fun Top 10 lists in all sorts of categories. What are the world's top 10 elevator rides, bridges to walk across, trolley rides, ancient highways, or underground walking adventures? Readers will love evaluating and debating the selections.

Each chapter showcases stunning photography, full-color maps, evocative text, and expert advice—including how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of the journey—all packaged in a luxurious oversize volume to treasure for years to come.

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An unabridged, illustrated edition of 'Walking' with an introduction by Ralph Waldo Emerson and the essay 'Night and Moonlight,' at book's end

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In 2009 Darla found herself 26 and divorced. Not knowing what else to do, she ran away to a hippie commune in Costa Rica-- despite having zero experience as a hippie. When a handsome stranger made her promise to return to Costa Rica for a dancing date she never imagine that, two years later, she'd be returning to stay.

Three Weeks In The Caribbean is her true diary account of how she survived divorce, the jungle, and fell in love with a redheaded Costa Rican.

She currently resides in Costa Rica and writes at www.darlaantoine.com

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Monday, April 18, 2011 | 6:05 a.m. | San Jose International Airport, Costa Rica

“Estoy bien; no te preocupes,” I told the fifth taxi driver for the fifth time. I’m fine; don’t worry. Unconvinced, he nevertheless turned his attention to a vacationing family just emerging from immigration and baggage claim.

But I was a little worried. I had just flown to Costa Rica to meet a man I’d met once, two years earlier. And he was almost 30 minutes late. I knew almost next to nothing about him apart from the fact that I wanted to know more. And that he claimed to be in love with me. Oh god. Was I one of those women? Running off to meet some cyber stranger?

Dozens of explanations flicked through my mind, none of them pleasant. "What if he chickened out? What if he just doesn’t care? What if I’m just one of several girls he strings along and he’s dropping off his previous conquest at the departure gate right now? What if he forgot?"

Then I remembered the moment we first met. The look on his face when our eyes met for the first time; no one can fake the debilitating and disarming surprise of falling in love at first sight. No one.

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What is life really like for the people who live and work in the city of Dubai? Rather than desert Sheikhs and designer-clad Emiratis, Raymond Barrett encounters a dizzy melange of expatriates and draws a fascinating picture of the brave new world emerging from the barren sands. He reveals the hidden side of the playboy paradise and considers whether Dubai is a plastic Arabia or an authentic success story.