Formerly a fishing village, Carvoeiro is flanked on either side by the sandstone sea cliffs characteristic of southern Portugal. The town's horsehoe-shaped bay is hailed as one of the Algarve's best beaches, with golden sand backed by whitewashed Mediterranean houses.

Portimao is a sailor’s delight, thanks to its calm waters and beautiful conditions. Plenty of elite international competitions happen here, but you don’t have to be a professional to set sail. Cruising the coast on the double-masted Santa Bernarda pirate ship is a family favorite. On dry land, you can wander the lovely Alvor boardwalk, enjoy a succulent seafood meal or zip around the go-kart track at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.

The fishing town of Tavira combines two Mediterranean staples: Moorish architecture and a golden beach. Here, a labyrinth of cobbled streets winds past houses tiled in the traditional Portuguese style, and the pace of life flows as gently as the Gilão River.

There is rich and beautiful history within Lagos’ 14th century walls, from its fortress to picturesque churches like mediaeval São João Hermitage and the 17th-century São Sebastião. But that’s all appetiser. People come here for a main-course coastal buffet featuring more than a half-dozen beautiful beaches. Quiet sandy coves are sandwiched between dramatic cliffs. The sandy 2.5-mile stretch of Meia Praia caters to every water sport imaginable. And when you’ve had your fill, you can digest your day with some of the best nightlife in the Algarve region.

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.

Best known as the site of Napoleon’s exile, Elba’s long history stretches back to pre-Roman times, when it was settled by Ligures and then Etruscans. It’s Tuscany’s biggest island and Italy’s third-largest, offering a great mix of options both cultural (like hilltop towns and castles) and recreational (like hiking, biking, swimming, diving and beaching). There’s an airport at Marina di Campo, but most arrive by ferry from Piombino to Portoferraio (the biggest town), Rio Marina or Porto Azzurro.

Nestled in the foothills of the Swiss alps, Varese is an outdoor rambler’s dream. Baroque and art nouveau villas are scattered among a painterly patchwork of mountains, rivers, wetlands, and Alpine lakes, capped by the UNESCO-listed Sacro Monte di Varese—a popular pilgrimage destination.

If the mention of Mykonos doesn’t immediately bring to mind bright white buildings, turquoise skies and tanned bodies lining golden sandy beaches, you’ve been living under a rock. The most popular Greek Island in the Aegean Sea is all about energy and attracts a diverse and upscale crowd that thrives on its stylish nightlife. During the day some privacy can be had in the more secluded north beaches, but the south beaches are all party. Ski, jet-ski, windsurf, horseback ride, parasail or just save up your energy for the evening ahead, like most of your fellow travellers in Mykonos.

The name "Chattanooga" comes from the Creek Indian word for "rock coming to a point". This refers to Lookout Mountain, one of the city's major attractions. Here visitors can explore extraordinary rock formations, see a roaring enclosed waterfall and travel by train to the top of the mountain for truly breathtaking vistas. Back down on the ground, don't miss the world's largest freshwater aquarium: the Tennessee Aquarium. History enthusiasts will love the city's museums dedicated to Civil-War, Native-American and 20th-century history. More than anything, Chattanooga is a scenic city, full of natural wonders waiting to be explored on foot or by car, bike or train.

Far from the north coast resort towns, Kingston is Jamaica at its most authentic, a sprawling city of contrasts spread between the east coast and the Blue Mountains. Kingston's diversity is reflected in its disparate neighborhoods, from the wealthy northern suburbs to the less affluent downtown. Travelers can discover the spirit of One Love at the Bob Marley Museum, or sample delicious ice cream at Devon House. Nearby, the former capital of Spanish Town offers insight into the area's history.

Set against towering peaks striped with ski runs, Almaty mixes tradition with modern flair. While locals still meet up for steamy Russian baths, traditional Kazakh delicacies, and countless cups of tea, the city's gleaming malls and wild nightclubs are downright futuristic.

With over 50 legendary attractions including the National Cowboy and Western Museum and the Myriad Botanical Gardens, plus world-class shopping, restaurants and hotels OKC, as it is affectionately known, is the ideal spot for a weekend of fun and reflection. Discover the sights and sounds of the Old West in Stockyards City, watch horse races at Remington Park, then have dinner and see a show in historic Bricktown. Designed to duplicate an 1800s frontier town, families will love the Frontier City Theme Park where visitors see an reenactment of the gun fight at the OK corral and ride thrilling roller coasters. The remarkable Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum occupies the now-sacred soil where 168 Americans were killed. Learn how tragedy united a nation and come away with a new sense of strength, peace and resolve.