Tokyo has long been considered one of the world’s great metropolises, and both Tokyo and the country of Japan have a long history with earthquakes, but in March 2011 such a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the northern Pacific coast that recovery continues now, nearly two years later. While the earthquake was felt in Tokyo (more than 230 miles southwest of the epicenter), the city’s earthquake-resistant structures made it through almost entirely unscathed. If you put off a visit to Japan in 2011 or 2012 due to the earthquake, Tokyo would like you to know it’s completely open for business, and travelers in Japan’s capital won’t notice any leftover earthquake-related issues.

There’s never really a bad year to put “visit National Parks in the United States” on your to-do list. The big names like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone never fail to inspire – but even the smaller parks offer stunning natural beauty and national history. Summer road trips are one of the more popular ways to visit several parks in one vacation, but keep in mind that some cities (including Las Vegas) are good bases from which to explore a few parks without needing to camp or drive long distances. And if you’re the kind of traveler who loves collecting passport stamps, don’t forget to get your U.S. National Parks passport – and then collect those stamps as you visit each park.

Most people need very little motivation to add Venice to their list of must-see sights. The city makes you feel like you’re walking around in a postcard, and who doesn’t love that? In 2013, however, Venice gives you another reason to visit – Biennale. This major international arts festival only takes place in odd-numbered years, making 2013 another Biennale year. The festival runs from June through November, with exhibits ranging from art to dance to theater to music. Summer is a notoriously busy time in Venice, so if you want to avoid most of the crowds but still enjoy the arts, plan your trip for September-November after the summer rush.