Five awesome spots you can't visit

Interesting teasers of awesome places that you - as an American - are probably not allowed to visit. From the renown travelogue known as Foreign Policy magazine (yes, that was a joke):

1. Mount Kumgang, North Korea
2. Baracoa, Cuba
3. Mogadishu's beaches, Somalia
4. Persepolis, Iran
5. Mandalay, Burma

As an American you can get into Cuba. Don't tell anyone, but a few of the travel pirates have been there (but in case anyone official is reading this, I'm not one of them and my hands are clean). It's really quite easy. Book a round-trip ticket to Canada, Mexico or Jamaica - and then another round-trip ticket from that place to Havana. Book it on a foreign travel agency website such as UK's Opodo and not on Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity who aren't allowed to sell such tickets (or go direct to the applicable foreign airline's website). But, again, I didn't tell you that - and for the record let me add that it's specifically illegal. If you do choose to risk it, remember to bring a lot of cash as your U.S. issued credit and debit cards are completely void there. Completely. Absolutely. Void.

In reading the article it appears it's possible to get to the other locations - but I assume some of the same "Cuba rules" apply - and you are definitely traveling at your own risk.

Travel guru Rick Steves just went to Persopolis. He says that Iran was "the most fascinating land" he's ever visited and his show on the topic is expected to air early next year.

So, if Rick can do it...

Top tourist spots Americans can't visit [Foreign Policy]
Rick Steves visits Iran [LA Times]
Persepolis [Wikipedia]
Don't be put off by the name...Guantanamo [Guardian UK]

[Awesome photo via Flickr]