Lucca, a Tuscan city surrounded by remarkably intact Renaissance walls, offers more than just postcard views. Known for its quiet streets and grand piazzas, Lucca stands apart with its circular street layout, still following the lines of a Roman amphitheater from centuries ago. The walls, now repurposed as a 4-kilometer tree-lined park, are a favorite route for locals and visitors who explore them on foot or by bike, passing old bastions and panoramic viewpoints along the way.

Ponta do Ouro is a coastal settlement in southern Mozambique, close to the South African border and the southern end of the Mozambique Channel. The town is known for its broad sandy beach, warm waters, coastal dunes, and strong connection to marine activities. It lies within the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve, which protects reefs, seagrass beds, estuaries, mangroves, and surrounding waters.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a community-based wildlife reserve in Botswana, located near the town of Serowe in the central part of the country. Established to protect endangered rhinoceros populations, the sanctuary covers a broad area of savanna and woodland, centered around natural water sources that attract a range of animals.

France’s city of Reims, located in the heart of the Champagne region, is a place where history and celebration meet. Known for its towering cathedral, Reims played a central role in French royal tradition. Nearly every French king was crowned at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that still dominates the skyline. The cathedral’s intricate facade and famous stained-glass window continue to draw visitors from around the world.

Holbrook is a small city in northeastern Arizona, located along Interstate 40 in Navajo County and serving as a gateway to several distinctive landscapes of the Colorado Plateau. The community lies near the Little Colorado River and is surrounded by open grassland, desert, and colorful badlands. Holbrook has long been associated with transportation across northern Arizona, and its location on the historic Route 66 corridor remains an important part of its identity.