Oxford is best known for its world-famous university, but the city offers much more than historic college halls and ivory towers. Its skyline, shaped by spires and domes, hints at centuries of intellectual life. The University of Oxford dates back to at least the 12th century and includes iconic buildings like the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and the Radcliffe Camera, a circular reading room that looks more like a cathedral than a place for quiet study.

Boulder, a beautiful 2,500 foot high oasis of green lawns and clean trees-shaded streets where the sun shines over 320 days a year, overlooks the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Recognized as truly a family oriented and community minded city, one only has to visit for a short time to confirm this reputation.

Bopa is a lakeside town in southwestern Benin, located in the Mono Department along the shores of Lake Ahémé. The town sits within a landscape of water, wetlands, palm trees, farmland, and low-lying coastal vegetation, with the lake playing an important role in local life. Fishing is a major activity, and traditional boats can be seen operating across the lake and along its shoreline.

The Exumas are located in the middle of The Bahamas, yet remain mostly undisturbed. A collection of some 365 cays and islands stretching over 120 miles, The Exumas are supported at the far southern tip of the chain by two main islands, Great Exuma and Little Exuma.

Philae Temple Complex sits on an island in the Nile near Aswan, where calm water and granite hills create a setting that feels carefully placed in the river. The temple buildings rise from the island like carved stone reflections of the cliffs around them, and reaching the site requires a short boat ride across still waters. This approach is part of the experience, as visitors leave the shore behind and glide toward an island that seems built for slow discovery.