Durban is a big subtropical city in the north-eastern province of KwaZulu/Natal. It has been a major port since the 1850s and is home to the largest concentration of Indian-descended people in the country - Mohandas Gandhi arrived here as an indentured labourer in 1893. Today the city is better known as a holiday-makers' fun parlour with a happening nightlife.

Valbona is a mountain valley in northern Albania, located within the Albanian Alps and surrounded by steep limestone peaks, forested slopes, and open meadows. The valley forms part of Valbona Valley National Park and follows the course of the Valbona River through a long, narrow landscape. Small villages and scattered guesthouses occupy sections of the valley, where traditional stone and wood buildings stand among farms and mountain vegetation.

Abilene is no-nonsense and traditional, but it's just as capable of having a good time as any rip-roaring cowpoke. When you're in Abilene, take time to see the Abilene Zoo, particularly the Texas Plains exhibit, a unique collection of species native to that part of the country (if you've never seen a javelina, here's your chance).

West Yellowstone, Montana sits right at the edge of one of the most visited protected landscapes in the United States, serving as a gateway to vast forests, geothermal fields, and wide open valleys. The town is built around travel into nearby wilderness, with simple log-style buildings, outdoor gear shops, and easy access points that lead directly toward major park entrances.

Frutillar is a small city on the western shore of Lake Llanquihue in southern Chile, with views across the water toward the snow-covered Osorno, Puntiagudo, Tronador, and Calbuco volcanoes. Its waterfront is defined by a long promenade, gardens, and dark volcanic-stone beaches, while wooden houses and carefully maintained public spaces give the town a distinctive appearance.