The "Big Easy" invites all to eat, drink and be merry, especially during Mardi Gras, its famous late-winter bacchanal.

Puerto Rico is a colorful and invincible archipelago. This U.S. territory, irrevocably shaped by colonialism and dramatic weather events, is awash in culture, with much to be learned in its art galleries and its centuries-old citadels. Capital city San Juan is the largest city and tourism hub. Visitors should see Old San Juan, the inviting beaches, and Museo de Arte de Ponce, among the finest art museums in the Caribbean.

Regensburg, Germany’s medieval gem, will transport you to a bygone era. The site of both Celtic and Roman settlements, Regensburg flourished in the Middle Ages.

Amsterdam, the 17th century capital of Holland, is often called the "Venice of the North" due to its numerous, boat-navigable canals. Truly rich in history, the oldest part of this populous, multicultural city is Sloten, which dates all the way back to the 9th century.

Part of the British Virgin Islands, Virgin Gorda is an island in the Caribbean famous for The Baths National Park, whose natural geologic granite formations dot the island's beaches and create stunning tidal pools and grottoes.