Some of the worst war-torn regions of the 20th century have made miraculous recoveries, transforming from places of carnage and decimation to hubs for comfort and fun, tourist journalist Katie Jackson writes in Fox News. She includes Columbia, South Africa, Nicaragua, Northern Island, Rwnada, Croatia, Armenia, Burma and Jamaica in her list.

As to Armenia, she writes that the country underwent many shocks and its capital Yerevan frequently changed hands, but it was the horrors of the Armenian Genocide that occurred between 1915 and 1918 that people remember most. “Today, Armenia has become a favorite destination for European budget travelers. Last year the number of foreign tourists increased to over 1.2 million, 11.3 percent more than the year before,” the article reads.

According to the author, the mountainous landscape affords wonderful opportunity for hiking and outdoor activities. “Culturally, the first nation to establish Christianity as a state religion, boasts of countless churches and monasteries — all free to visit. Also, public transportation is affordable and reliable, crowds are few and far between and everything is relatively cheap,” Jackson writes.