Travel broadens the mind. Particularly if we pass the time at airports, on airplanes or in taxis with fascinating culture podcast.

Living in Sweden

Billy bookcases and cinnamon buns? Certainly not. The German-language podcast “Läget” goes far beyond the usual clichés.

facebook.com/laeget.podcast

All about Asia

Who where the Samurai again? How did the Nüshu script come about? What was the first Japanese manga? “History ofJapan” and “China History Podcast” are top infotainment.

recordedhistory.net / china-history.net / isaacmeyer.net

Tit for tat

“Americana für euch” explains the finer points of U.S. culture in German. Alternatively, check out the “History of Germany Podcast” in English.

podcastnik.com

Rob Woodcoy, an American fine artist and photographer, is also a man on a mission. His montages, centered on the human figure, tell stories and convey how diverse we are as individuals. He runs photography workshops, too – including one in northern California this month.

robwoodcox.com

On Scheelhoek Island in The Netherlands, you can observe sandwich terns, an endangered species of bird, at the egg-shaped TIJ Observatory jointly designed by RAU Architects and Ro&Ad Architects – composed entirely of natural materials.

rau.eu

The Kakku pagodas – of which there are over 2000 – have bells in their dainty towers that tinkle in the wind. The 16th-century temple complex is sacred to the Pa-O people, but visitors are now allowed to enjoy the magic, too.

inlelaketourism.com/kakku-pagodas.asp

If you and your family can’t decide where to take your next vacation, try one of these tips: They combine the sea, the mountains and a city getaway in a single destination.