Author: Larry Bleiberg, Special to USA TODAY

Atlanta Hawk Kent Bazemore says Atlanta offers much more than the glitz and glamour on display in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

If Earth had a greatest hits list, it would look something like the roster of World Heritage Sites, which preserve the most significant locations.

Ninja athletes aren’t just found on TV. NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” has sparked the development of ninja gyms and leagues across the country.

The new year brings new opportunities for travelers with the opening and expansion of museums in cities large and small.

Though it’s easy to point and click your way through a holiday shopping list, it hardly matches the adventure of wandering through a toy store.

If your gift giving has fallen into a rut, stop by a craft gallery, co-op or pop-up store for your holiday shopping.

Towering and elaborately decorated public trees allow visitors to join in local holiday traditions and gatherings.

Whether you’re visiting a college campus to catch a football game or for a student tour, there’s no need to check into a cookie-cutter hotel.

A cemetery offers a chance to learn history, admire scenery and, maybe, encounter a spirit. Real-life ghost chasers share favorite graveyard tours.

Around the world, lasers and lights are drawing visitors to nighttime shows at planetariums, shopping malls, theme parks and more.