Pirate Queens, famous authors, scheming politicians and celebrities of days past and present have walked through these corridors -- and now you can, too.

Shabby-chic hotel design is a study in the art of textural contrasts: vintage leather, velvet furniture, deliberately faded rugs, woods and rich prints all add to the look.

At AFAR, we believe that (nearly) anywhere in the world could be a place to go in 2013. Maybe it's because we subscribe to the choose-your-own-adventure approach to travel. That said, the following 13 places really stand out for us this year.

Not long after my flight landed in Kristiansund on Norway's western coast, I found myself on a harbor cruise, gliding by its mustard yellow and barn red homes tucked into the hillsides and old fish warehouses used to dry and salt cod.

Norway is a spectacularly green and sparsely populated country (the second least populated in all of Europe) with about 5 million folks living here -- roughly the same as the Greater Boston Metropolitan area.

Oslo is more complex than its largely utilitarian design and architecture would suggest. Oslo is, by no means, boring.

Birkelunden Park flea market keeps Grünerløkka alive and thriving. I strolled between the booths like an anthropologist eager to observe the youth culture up close and personal.

In a country of $7-a-gallon fuel and high taxes, electric cars are making inroads -- and I wanted to take one for a test drive.

Oslo is only expensive for the uninformed and there's always a way to sneak your way to cheap. Whether you're showing off your own crown jewels or stealing the Royals', there's no need for your wallet to ever leave your backpack.

The Fred. Olsen Boudicca is a popular floating resort. The waters are crowded with sea-worthy vessels, so to make planning easier, we've done all the ...