Duckwyn's Travel Blog

Remember when your kids begged to visit "that place from the movie?" That impulse has a name: set-jetting - traveling to real-world filming locations from your favorite films and TV shows. And it is exploding. Set-jetting has become a potential $8 billion industry in the United States alone. Nearly 53% of global travelers say their desire to take a set-jetting trip has increased over the past year, and among Gen Z and Millennials, 81% now plan vacations inspired by movies or

2025 was a year of steady exploration at DuckAbroad. Every week brought new destinations, and by year's end, we'd added 57 new points of interest to the app, each one chosen to spark curiosity and help families plan adventures beyond the usual tourist circuits. The Numbers 57 additions  across 6 continents 377 total destinations  now live in the app 21 museums  joined the collection, with a strong focus on WWII and military history 5 new cities  opened up for exploration 23 d

Most people have heard of Machu Picchu. Almost nobody knows about the fortress that's roughly 900 years older. Kuelap, built by the Chachapoya "Cloud Warriors" in the 6th century, is now live in the Duckabroad app . Why Kuelap? Each of the fortress's three entrances narrows to a corridor so tight that a single warrior could hold off an attacking army. It's defensive architecture at its most elegant and the kind of detail that makes kids lean in and ask questions. The Cloud Wa

Photo by Mustang Joe on Flickr Imagine a structure so geometrically perfect that it inspired the prison pit in "The Dark Knight Rises," and it was built over 1,200 years ago without modern technology. Hidden in the small village of Abhaneri in Rajasthan, Chand Baori is one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India, featuring 3,500 perfectly symmetrical steps cascading 13 stories into the earth. This is an ancient engineering marvel that solved a critical problem: how to

Photo by Henning Klokkeråsen We just added one of Rome's most fascinating landmarks to the app: Castel Sant'Angelo . This place has lived many lives. It started as Emperor Hadrian's tomb in 139 AD. Then it became a fortress where soldiers literally threw marble statues at attacking armies when they ran out of ammunition. Then a papal bunker with a secret escape tunnel to the Vatican. Then a prison that held philosophers and sculptors. Now it's a museum with one of the best ro

Edinburgh's skyline has one unmistakable silhouette—a crown-shaped spire rising above the Royal Mile. That crown belongs to St Giles' Cathedral, a building that has witnessed 900 years of Scottish history unfold at its doorstep. We've just added St Giles' Cathedral to DuckAbroad, and if you're heading to Edinburgh, this is one stop you won't want to miss. A building older than the city around it King David I founded St Giles' in 1124, before most of Edinburgh's Old Town even

Argentina protects 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered from subtropical forests to Patagonian ice fields. DuckAbroad Travel Passport is starting with two of the country's most spectacular parks: Iguazú and Los Glaciares. Collect virtual stickers when you visit these natural wonders, with more UNESCO sites coming soon. Here's what makes each site worth visiting and collecting. Iguazú National Park: Waterfalls at the Brazil border Location: Misiones Province, northeastern

Spain isn’t just about beaches and big cities. Hidden across its hills and valleys are towns so rich in history and architecture that UNESCO placed them among the world’s treasures. These towns tell Spain’s story. From ancient Roman engineering to Moorish palaces and medieval plazas that still feel alive with local life. For families who love exploring culture and history, visiting Spain’s UNESCO towns is like walking through an open-air museum. Each one offers something uniq

Just a short train ride from Madrid, the breathtaking town of Cuenca, Spain , feels like stepping into another time. Perched dramatically between two river gorges, this UNESCO World Heritage Site blends Moorish history, medieval charm, and postcard-perfect scenery. Once an important Moorish stronghold, Cuenca is now best known for its Hanging Houses (Casas Colgadas)—centuries-old homes that seem to cling to the cliffs above the Huécar River. Wander through its cobblestone st

A Family Journey Through WWII History The final stop on our World War II journey took us to Bastogne, Belgium—one of the most important sites of the Battle of the Bulge. Last year, our family spent a week exploring WWII sites in France and Belgium. We started on the beaches of Normandy, followed the northern coast of France to Dunkirk, and finally reached Bastogne, where one of the war’s fiercest battles unfolded in the winter of 1944. My son and I have always been fascinate

The Todt Battery is one of the most famous gun emplacements along the Atlantic Wall. The battery was named after Fritz Todt, the engineer who oversaw much of Germany's military construction efforts. Built between 1940 and 1942, the battery housed four large-caliber guns known as "38 cm SK C/34 naval guns," capable of firing shells weighing about a ton. These powerful guns had a range of up to 55 kilometers (about 34 miles), theoretically allowing them to reach the southern c

On our family trip to Sedona back in 2018, we made a stop at Tuzigoot National Monument. And, it turned out to be a fun stop on our journey to the Grand Canyon. Rising above the Verde River Valley, Tuzigoot is a hilltop pueblo built by the Sinagua people around A.D. 1125. Over time, this ancient settlement grew into a thriving community of about 200 residents living within its 110 interconnected rooms. For nearly 400 years, the Sinagua farmed the valley below, growing corn, b

Stone walls rise from turquoise water on Croatia's Dalmatian coast. Two cities, Dubrovnik and Split , have watched empires rise and fall from these shores, and both just joined the DuckAbroad Travel Passport collection. Check in at either city to collect your virtual sticker and explore where Roman emperors retired and medieval merchants built fortunes. Dubrovnik: The fortress republic that wouldn't fall Walk Dubrovnik's city walls and you're tracing the perimeter of a 7th-c

Walnut Canyon National Monument is located in northern Arizona, near the city of Flagstaff. This beautiful park is known for its stunning canyon and ancient cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people. These homes were carved into the canyon walls, creating a unique historical site. Early History and the Sinagua People Walnut Canyon National Monument The history of Walnut Canyon begins with the Sinagua people, who lived in the region from around AD 600 to 1400. The name "Sina

Beautiful weather is upon us and it's that time of year when we load the family in the car and get out and explore nature. If you live in the northeastern part of the United States or plan to visit over the next few months, here are 3 state parks that you should consider visiting. Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire Franconia Notch State Park is located in the White Mountains in northern New Hampshire. Its stunning landscape has brought artists and tourists here for

We've added the city of Toledo to the Duckwyn Travel app. There's a new sticker for your family to add to their passport and a series of new quests to explore. A short history of Toledo... Toledo is located on a hill above the Tagus River in central Spain. It's a city with breathtaking architecture and rich history going back 2000 years. Toledo has been influenced by Christian, Islamic, and Jewish civilizations that have thrived within its ancient walls. Toledo's beginning d

Los Glaciares National Park, located in the southern part of Argentina, is a family traveler's dream come true. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a natural wonderland that offers an incredible mix of adventure, education, and jaw-dropping beauty for all ages. At the heart of the park lies the Perito Moreno Glacier, a colossal ice formation that regularly calves into the turquoise waters of Lake Argentino. Witnessing this natural spectacle is not only a visual treat but also

Three islands. Three stamps. One collection that's begging to be completed. DuckAbroad Travel Journal just added the U.S. Virgin Islands collection, and if you're the type who can't stand seeing empty slots in your digital passport, you'll want all three. Here's what you're collecting. Saint Thomas: The easy-access Caribbean Most Virgin Islands trips start in Saint Thomas, so your collection probably will too. This is the island that makes Caribbean travel easy—direct flights

Your kids have a mental model of what "big waterfall" means. Maybe they've seen Niagara Falls. Maybe they've just seen pictures. Either way, they think they understand the concept. Then you show them Iguazú Falls. The photo shows what looks like dozens of waterfalls side by side. Your son counts them. He gets to thirty and gives up. "How many are there?" he asks. 275. He doesn't believe you. This can't be one place. This has to be multiple photos stitched together. You zoom o

Before most of today’s nations even existed, a light was already burning on Ireland’s southeastern coast. That light, first tended by monks in the 12th century, still shines from Hook Lighthouse on the windswept cliffs of County Wexford. For nearly nine centuries it has guided sailors through Atlantic storms, and now your family can climb the same stone tower where those first keepers once watched the sea. A Medieval Tower That Still Guides Ships Hook Lighthouse stands at the