Global Landmarks
This iconic Indian landmark was built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife.
Taj Mahal
This athlete has won the most Olympic gold medals of all time.
Michael Phelps
This phenomenon, often observed on beaches, is the rhythmic rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, and the rotation of the Earth.
Tides
Held in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, this event culminates in burning a large wooden effigy.
Burning Man
This 1975 Steven Spielberg film about a shark is often credited as the first summer blockbuster.
Jaws
This ancient wonder is the only one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.
Great Pyramid of Giza
This swimming stroke is the only one not named after an animal or human movement.
Freestyle
The type of sand found on many Hawaiian black sand beaches, like Punalu'u, is primarily composed of this volcanic rock.
Basalt
This festival, held at the end of summer / early fall, represents Munich’s 16-day celebration of beer and Bavarian culture.
Oktoberfest
This 1999 science fiction film that questioned reality and featured "bullet time" special effects was released by the Wachowskis.
The Great Wall of China was built primarily to defend against invasions from this nomadic group to the north.
Mongols
The Olympic flame tradition originates from this ancient Greek city, home to the original Games.
Olympia
This cosmopolitan coastal city features the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, immortalized in the bossa nova song "The Girl from Ipanema".
Rio de Janeiro
This annual American four-day music festival is held in Grant Park in Chicago and covers a variety of genres.
Lollapalooza
This 1986 action film that launched Tom Cruise as a global star featured the song "Danger Zone" and sparked a 2022 sequel.
Top Gun
This UNESCO World Heritage site in South America sits at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level and was built in the 15th century.
Machu Picchu
The USA has hosted the summer olympics four times: twice in LA, once in Atlanta, and once in this city.
St Louis, Missouri
This unique beach in California's MacKerricher State Park is famous for its shoreline covered with smooth, colorful glass pebbles created from years of dumping garbage that was then naturally tumbled by the ocean.
Glass Beach
Norway’s “Midtsommer” celebrations include burning large bonfires to ward off these mythical creatures.
Witches
The famous quote, "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain," is from this movie.
The Dark Knight
This natural landmark in Australia is also known by its Aboriginal name "Uluru" and changes color throughout the day.
Ayers Rock
This country is only one to have won at least one gold medal at each of the summer Olympic Games.
United Kingdom
This world famous beach found in Crete, Greece, is famed for its unique pink-tinged sand and crystal-clear, shallow waters.
Elafonisi Beach
This annual festival in South Korea involves participants covering themselves in gray mud believed to have therapeutic properties.
Boryeong Mud Festival
This 1996 film starring Will Smith was released on July 4th weekend and features the iconic line "Welcome to Earth!"
Independence Day