Portland, Oregon, is a city where natural beauty and urban innovation coexist harmoniously. Nestled between the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and framed by volcanic mountains, Portland offers an array of outdoor adventures alongside its renowned cultural scene. Visitors can explore the lush expanses of Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the U.S., or take a leisurely stroll through the Portland Japanese Garden, which showcases exquisite traditional Japanese landscape design.

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.

Labuan Bajo is a coastal town on the western tip of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara, facing the waters between Flores and Sumbawa. It serves as the main gateway to Komodo National Park and is also a center for travel across western Flores. The town sits beside a sheltered harbor surrounded by small islands, dry hills, and coastal landscapes.

The name is not an exaggeration. Here 100-foot high glaciers and precipitous mountains present an incomparable panorama, a riot of color in white, red, yellow and blue.

Kushiro is a port city on the eastern coast of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. The city faces the Pacific Ocean and is known for its fishing industry, wetlands, and cool maritime climate. Fog drifting in from the sea is common during warmer months and has become one of Kushiro’s defining natural features.