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.

Tuscany, Italy, is a region where the essence of Italy's beauty, history, and culture is captured in its rolling hills, timeless villages, and world-class art. Famous for its postcard-perfect landscapes, Tuscany is where cypress-lined roads lead to centuries-old hilltop towns like Montepulciano and Montalcino, which are steeped in history and offer some of Italy's finest wines, including the renowned Brunello di Montalcino. Tuscany is a treasure trove for lovers of art and architecture, boasting

Austria is located just east of Switzerland; northeast of Italy. The foremost attraction is skiing or hiking the Alps--equally breathtaking whether you're among its glorious peaks or at ground level. Visit the capital of Vienna, with its original coffee houses and the opera; or take a country drive and visit its charming villages.

Verona is situated at a bend of the Adige River in northern Italy. It is hard to imagine that antique arts, monuments that date back to Roman times, and the shadows of the world's most famous tragic lovers can add up to a smiling, buzzing city. Yet they do, thanks perhaps to Verona's talent for melding her past and her present, her ancient and new so gracefully that everything blends in easy harmony.

Southeast Spain's seaport of Cartagena is a large naval base on the Mediterranean coast. The city was founded in 220 B.C. and boasts Roman ruins, mosaics and murals.