One of Japan's 60 core cities, Aomori is well-known for its beautiful landscapes. Favorite landscapes include the Hakkoda Mountains and Lake Towada. Another of the city's highlights is the Nebuta Matsuri, an annual festival known for its daily parade of giant, colorful lantern floats.

Located in Oaxaca, Mexico, Huatulco is famous for its beaches and the sparkling blue water of surrounding bays.

Khiva, located in western Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region, is one of Central Asia’s most evocative Silk Road cities. Its walled inner city, known as the Itchan Kala, has preserved a remarkable collection of mud-brick architecture, minarets, mosques, and madrasahs that reflect centuries of Islamic culture and trade. Khiva served as a thriving trading hub and political center, linking merchants and scholars across the desert routes of the region.

Vienne, France sits along the wide bend of the Rhône River in southeastern France, where stone bridges, riverbanks, and steep hills shape the view from nearly every angle. The old town is filled with narrow streets that open suddenly into squares lined with cafés and small shops. One of the most striking sights is how Roman ruins appear in unexpected places, blending into daily life rather than standing apart as distant monuments.

Brazil's third largest city, Belo Horizonte was founded in 1897. Most of Brazil's gems and semi-precious stones are mined in this area and it is where you can find the best bargains, from aquamarines to imperial topaz. It is just 59 miles from Brazil's most historic colonial city, Ouro Preto.