Travel the globe with our newly launched Places of a Lifetime. Plus, check out our top ten museum picks.

If you are having trouble viewing this e-mail, please click on this link. To ensure you receive your National Geographic e-mails, please add ngs@newsletters.nationalgeographic.com to your address book now. September 26, 2007 NEW! 1. Places of a Lifetime: New York, Beijing, Paris, and More For an insider's view of the world's greatest destinations, check out our newly launched Places of a Lifetime. Read writer Peter Hessler's essay on Beijing, print out a Parisian recipe for Petit Pot de Crème à la Vanille, or browse a photo gallery of New York icons. And if you're planning a trip, bookmark the "Best of" section, insiders' picks of the best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment. Be sure to read our trip checklist and cultural tips, as well as Traveler's Authentic Shopping Guide, genuine items to bring home from your journey. Stay tuned—we plan to add more great cities on a regular basis. Start exploring now. THE REAL DEAL 2. Six-Night Iceland Adventure with Airfare from $1,959 per Person A*List readers receive an additional 10 percent savings on Iceland Experience's excursion with visits to Reykjavik, Thorsmork, Akureyri, and Lake Myvatn. The package includes airfare, five nights' accommodations, daily breakfast, two Jeep excursions to the Golden Circle and Thorsmork, a tour of Akureyri and Lake Myvatn, and a visit to the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa. The price is based on airfare from Boston, Baltimore, or New York. Offer is valid during low- booking season throughout the year. For reservations and additional information call 866 949 0129 or go online. FREE CITIES 3. A Quieter Side of South Beach Known for its stylish boutique shopping and club-hopping nightlife scene, Miami also has a quieter, less expensive side. Adventure seekers come to Biscayne National Park for snorkeling and scuba diving among the colorful coral reefs. Others boat, fish, watch wildlife, and meander in a canoe through one of Florida's longest stretches of mangrove forest. Rangers offer advice for spotting the manatees and dolphins that swim along the shore. Check out Family Fun Fest, a free program held on the second Sunday of each month, January through May, that highlights the park's diverse resources. Still not quiet enough? Get centered as you stretch along the shore with Yoga in the Park. The serene and scenic Bayfront Park offers free yoga classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday for advanced yoga enthusiasts or curious novices. For more free Miami activities, click here. DESTINATION GUIDE 4. 48 Hours Phoenix In 1868, Phoenix was named after the mythical bird in hopes that a new town would spring from the ruins of ancient buildings abandoned by the Hohokam people. Not only did the area grow to become the fifth-largest city in the United States, but it has also soared as a year-round tourist destination. In such a large city, it's best to plan your attack. Before your next trip check out Arizona Trails Magazine's "Experience AZ" calendar, which highlights a slew of local activities handpicked by the editors. A few activities that caught our attention: a $10 skyride that takes you as high as 11,500 feet, where you can see all the way to the Grand Canyon, and a traditional starlit Indian feast. For more Phoenix resources, click here. INTELLIGENT TRAVEL 5. Winin' and Dinin' on the Island Who says the Big Apple is the only place to find good eats in New York? On a recent trip to Long Island, Intelligent Travel found a host of places that tickled our taste buds. A favorite: Kitchen A Bistro. Tucked away behind a liquor store in St. James, this European-style café serves an organic menu that changes daily to accommodate the freshest ingredients. Chef Eric Lomando has served dishes like "chorizo steamed baby clams Farro" and "sauté barramundi chick pea puree and broccoli rabe." Be sure to save room for dessert—their pastry chef creates sweets like "African nectar crème brûlée" and "flourless chocolate cake." The recently redesigned dining room only seats about 25 people, so be sure to get there early—the restaurant's been known to have a line of people waiting in the parking lot. This North Shore Bistro is cash-only, very casual, and BYOB. For more Long Island restaurant picks, click here. 1. Smithsonian Institution 2. Le Louvre 3. Egyptian Museum 4. State Hermitage 5. The British Museum 6. The Prado 7. Metropolitan Museum of Art 8. The Vatican Museums 9. The Uffizi Gallery 10. Rijksmuseum Buy The Ten Best of Everything from National Geographic Books.     "Most young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 demonstrate a limited understanding of the world beyond their country's borders, and they place insufficient importance on the basic geographic skills that might enhance their knowledge. . . . Six in ten (63%) cannot find Iraq on a map of the Middle East, despite near-constant news coverage since the U.S. invasion." —National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs Geographic Literacy Study, a key driver behind the brand-new National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers, 3rd Edition Buy this book from National Geographic Books. OUR SPONSORS You Drive! Volkswagen Touareg in Moab Off-road guided tour, seasoned staff, and first rate accommodations. Driving adventure of a lifetime! Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines offers 49 weekly flights from USA to Asia. On board enjoy World Gourmet Cuisine and KrisWorld with over 500 entertainment options. Fly Singapore Airlines and experience award-winning in-flight service. Last we heard, Hawaii was more than one island NCL is the only way to see the four major islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii while experiencing Freestyle Cruising®. The party is shaping up! Be part of Québec City's 400th anniversary celebrations, beginning in the first days of January 2008. Visit myquebec2008.com for the schedule of events. Plan now to join the excitement! To unsubscribe from all future National Geographic e-mails, click here. View our privacy policy. You received this editorial/commercial e-newsletter from National Geographic because the information for your account indicates that National Geographic may contact you via e-mail. To be removed from this distribution, please click on the link above or send your request to National Geographic; Attn: E-newsletter Program; 1145 17th Street N.W.; Washington, D.C. 20036-4688. Copyright © 2007 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.