France offers far more than its capital city. While Paris draws millions each year, the country’s true richness lies in its variety, from Alpine villages to Atlantic coastlines, medieval towns to Mediterranean markets. In Normandy, visitors can walk along the D-Day beaches or explore the towering abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, which becomes an island at high tide. Further inland, the Loire Valley is dotted with over 300 castles, many of which are open for tours and even overnight stays.

Behold beautiful Lucerne! This German-speaking area of central Switzerland on Lake Lucerne is a truly spectacular locale. Surrounded by mountains and notable for its famous Chapel Bridge, this idyllic and musical Swiss locale is wonderful any time of year.

The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park. Animal lovers and safari enthusiasts know it as the place where the elephants congregate during winter's dry season and migrant birds are in full color during the wet summer months. The river itself is actually a section of the Cuando River, known as the Chobe from the seasonal lake Liambesi to its outflow at the Zambezi River.

British influences are quite evident in Victoria, from afternoon tea times to elegant Victorian architecture. This capital of British Columbia on Vancouver Island provides ample outdoor recreation, with its public parks and access to both the ocean and wilderness. Cyclists will be right at home here, as Victoria boasts a seemingly endless number of bike paths for exploring.

Salvador da Bahia, often simply called Salvador, is a city where the soul of Brazil truly shines. As the capital of the state of Bahia and one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas, Salvador offers a rich tapestry of Afro-Brazilian culture, vibrant music, and historic architecture.