Home to the Netherlands’ oldest university and the birthplace of Rembrandt, Leiden also served as a several-year stop-off between England and the New World for America’s Pilgrim fathers in the early 17th century. Today, lovely Leiden boasts the second-largest Dutch city center after Amsterdam. The National Museum of Antiquities has an impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts. The Hortus Botanicus, established in 1590, was the site of the planting of Holland’s first tulip bulbs in 1593.

Monolithic gates still protect Amersfoort, a well-preserved medieval city that remains connected to its history. Built into the foundations of 13th-century defensive walls, the Muurhuizen wall houses are one of the city’s most intriguing features. Art enthusiasts should visit the Mondriaan House (birthplace of abstract artist Piet Mondriaan) and the Armando Museum, a collection of works by the famed Dutch painter.

Encompassing two of the Netherlands’ three largest cities (Rotterdam and The Hague), Zuid-Holland (South Holland) is also home to important towns like Leiden, Gouda and Delft. And many lovely smaller towns dot the gorgeous green landscape. Alphen aan den Rijn has several interesting attractions, including Dutch history theme park Archeon. Picturesque Kinderdijk, birthplace of the legend of the Cat and the Cradle, also has many windmills that together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For wine lovers, Reims is an essential stop on France’s Champagne trail, with big-name bubbly houses headquartered here among wide boulevards and well-preserved medieval churches. There’s plenty to toast to at Reims Cathedral, a coronation site for centuries of French monarchs.

The star attractions of the area around Keswick are of course the Skiddaw Mountains and beautiful Derwentwater. Sports enthusiasts should plan their holiday for the month of May to take part in the Keswick Mountain Festival. If you are not a climber, you can enjoy the public parks, swimming pools and gardens of Keswick. For evening entertainment try the Theatre by the Lake or the cinema. Keswick has a superb choice of eateries that cater to all tastes.

On the Polish border, Usedom is an island that holidaymakers adore. Soft sands and beautiful views of the sea make it a delight for sun-seekers. For the elegant experience, tour its coastal towns; for the rugged view, rent a bike and explore the nature park. (Tip: If you love to shop, cross over into Poland for better prices on just about anything.)

Relaxed beaches flank the sunny resort town of Menton, known as "the pearl of France," and its most temperate locale. Nearly a dozen private beaches offer bar service and lounge chairs. The free public beaches are kid-friendly with plenty of aquatic sports to inspire a plunge into the Med.

The landscape of Soller is lush and green, dotted with fruit trees and olive groves, and makes a gorgeous backdrop for a hike or bike ride. Tour the gorgeous botanical gardens or marvel at the lacy sandcastle architecture of the Sant Bartomeu Church. Fans of Antoni Gaudi may recognize the features of the Banco de Soller, which was built by Gaudi student and collaborator Joan Rubió i Bellver.

A patchwork of vineyards and olive groves, dotted with whitewashed hill towns and sun-bronzed beaches—Italy’s southern heel has no shortage of photogenic landscapes. There are a few surprises, too, including the baroque city of Lecce and the Itria Valley, with its UNESCO-listed trulli houses.

With its postcard-worthy backdrop of golden sands, forested mountains, and miles of azure ocean, it’s no surprise that Fethiye is among the most-visited cruise ports on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. The town itself is equally attractive, with leafy seafront promenades, lively bazaars, and ancient ruins.

"Ithaca is gorges" can be read on proud t-shirts across New York State, and there is definitely truth in advertising. Sitting on the shores of Cayuga Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes, the hilly town of Ithaca is surrounded by dense forests, towering waterfalls, and many gorges. The natural beauty has a distinctly academic feel, as local universities have filled the woods with museums and education centers like The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which features a 220 acre wildlife sanctuary.

There are no two identical Bahamas holidays. With options as diverse as its 700 islands, the Bahamas may seem schizophrenic: is it a family destination, a place for lovers to sneak away, a gambling mecca, a cruise-afficianado’s chief port of call or a shopper’s world market? The answer is, yes. It’s that, too.