Alter do Chão is a riverside village in the Brazilian state of Pará, on the banks of the clear Tapajós River. Though part of the larger municipality of Santarém, Alter do Chão has its own rhythm and identity, known far beyond Brazil for the white-sand beaches that appear when river levels drop between July and December. One of the most famous spots is Ilha do Amor (Love Island), a sandbar just off the village shore that feels almost like a hidden world of warm water and bright sky.

Konya has served as a spiritual center for centuries. Every December, the Şeb‑i Arûs festival marks the passing of Rumi, the Persian mystic, and draws Sufis and visitors from around the world to witness the Sema. Whirling dervish dance is performed to the sound of ney flutes and drums. In one of the country's most hushed and vivid traditions, performers spin in unison in flowing white skirts, a scene that blends meditation with graceful motion in a way found nowhere else.

Killington, Vermont is best known for its ski resort, the largest in the eastern United States, but the town offers more than just winter slopes. Nicknamed “The Beast of the East,” Killington Resort spans six mountain peaks and includes over 1,500 acres of terrain. It was one of the first ski areas in the country to adopt snowmaking technology in the 1960s, and it continues to operate one of the longest ski seasons in North America, sometimes stretching from October into May.

Basel is the global center of the pharmaceutical industry, but most travelers visit for the world-famous ART Basel festival, as well as the numerous art galleries, iconic architecture and museums.

Lao Cai, a gateway city to the northern highlands of Vietnam, offers an alluring blend of cultural diversity, breathtaking landscapes, and a touch of French colonial heritage. Situated along the Red River and bordering China, Lao Cai is the starting point for adventurers heading to the famous terraced rice fields of Sapa, but it has its own unique charms to discover.