Midway

Set like a gem in the vast Pacific Ocean, halfway between Tokyo and San Francisco, Midway us a nature-lover's dream. The atoll hosts the world's largest albatross nesting colony. Amazingly approachable tropicbirds, terns, boobies, and frigatebirds also net there. Reefs surrounding Midway teem with rainbow-hued corals and fishes, as well as sea turtles, monk seals, and Hawaiian spinner dolphins.

This remote outpost influenced world affairs on several occasions. Notably, the 1942 Battle of Midway changed the course of World War II. View the confrontation through the eyes of four survivors, and learn how Midway has generated recognition on a scale well beyond its physical size.

Whether your interest is nature or history, Connie Troops' informative text and Phyllis Greenberg's compelling photos provide everything you need to know-and will definitely inspire you-to visit Midway.