Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

It's one of the most popular sights in India, attracting 3 million

visitors a year -- which automatically puts it on many tourist's
verboten list. More fool them: they're missing a World Heritage Site
that really lives up to the hype. At sunrise or sunset the crowds are
slimmest and the building is at its most photogenic.
Travel writer Jodi Ettenberg picked the dawn hours of a rainy day for
her visit, when most tourists would stay in bed.
National Geographic Traveler of the Year Shannon O'Donnell took a
different approach.
"I went on a sunny day and still had a wonderful visit," says
O'Donnell. "The site is just as popular with Indian tourists, so it was
fun to interact with the families."