Canada has what seems like an endless list of great family vacation spots. But for all those famous known locales, there are just as many unknowns to discover. One of my favorites is also one of the easiest to explore. Richmond, BC is Vancouver’s next door neighbor and home to the Vancouver International Airport making direct flights from the Bay Area quick and easy.

Unplugged travel. The term may bring to mind trips like canoeing the Okavango Delta in Botswana or exploring the wilderness of Alaska, like Christopher McCandless. However, right here in California, beyond the boardwalks, concrete jungles, and doors of technology companies like Twitter, unplugged vacations await the traveler who is willing to escape, including Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, located along the Central Coast in Solvang.

The otherworldly feel of ancient ruins and deep jungles at Siem Reap. The burgeoning arts and culture scene in Phnom Penh. Miles of pristine coastline in Kep. This is Cambodia today. Ravaged in the 1970s by the violence of the Khmer Rouge, the country has reemerged as a destination of dreams in a testament to the resilience of its people. Whether you seek traditional Cambodia or an experience off the beaten path, AFAR magazine’s Jen Murphy has your itinerary all planned out. One thing’s certain: There is plenty still to uncover.

I first came to India in 2004 to heal after my mother’s 
death. I immediately found comfort in a place that was so completely foreign, and I welcomed the distraction from all-encompassing grief. Years later, after having three miscarriages, I returned to this place where I made peace with the loss of my mom, to heal once again, and start a family of my own.