A veritable paradise on Earth, Auckland combines the best of both worlds – a thrilling urban metropolis surrounded by striking natural areas, sparkling blue water, and colorful wildlife. New Zealand’s cultural and recreational hub, beautiful Auckland has something for everyone.

More than 300 days of sunshine annually (more than San Diego or Miami Beach) earns Denver high marks with visitors and make sunglasses a must. For the city's most energetic shopping, dining and entertainment spots, point your compass in the direction of Larimer Square, the Tivoli, LoDo and the 16th Street Mall.

Colombo is the financial capital and by population, the biggest city in Sri Lanka. A major trading port as far back as 2,000 years ago, Colombo has an expansive harbor, making it a true commercial center of this island country.

This cosmopolitan city beckons with an elegant skyline dotted with numerous skyscrapers. Despite the modern look, Calgary is still steeped in the western culture that earned it the nickname “Cowtown,” as evidenced in the Calgary Stampede, a July rodeo and festival that grew out of the farming exhibitions once presented here

Latvia is a republic in northeastern Europe. Riga, the capital and largest city, is also the country's chief port. The climate is dominated by marine influences in the west, with cool summers and mild winters; more continental conditions and greater climatic variation exist in the east. In Latvia, snow covers the ground from two to more than four months of the year. Summers are frequently hot, with average daily temperatures exceeding 25° C (about 80° F).