Lucca, a Tuscan city surrounded by remarkably intact Renaissance walls, offers more than just postcard views. Known for its quiet streets and grand piazzas, Lucca stands apart with its circular street layout, still following the lines of a Roman amphitheater from centuries ago. The walls, now repurposed as a 4-kilometer tree-lined park, are a favorite route for locals and visitors who explore them on foot or by bike, passing old bastions and panoramic viewpoints along the way.

Badlands National Park stretches across southwestern South Dakota, where layered rock formations and sharply eroded spires reveal nearly 75 million years of geological history. The park’s banded cliffs and pinnacles were shaped by wind and water, exposing ancient seabeds and fossil-rich layers that have made the area one of North America’s most important paleontological sites.

Nestled along the Basque coast in southwestern France, St-Jean-de-Luz is a picturesque fishing town that exudes a unique blend of French elegance and Basque charm. Known for its beautiful sandy beaches and its well-preserved old town, St-Jean-de-Luz is a gem of the French Basque Country.

Juneau's majestic sprawl and abundance of nature set it apart from most capital cities in America. Tourists arrive via air or water, many coming in on cruise ships.

Catalina Island, located just 1.5 miles off the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, is a serene tropical escape known for its pristine beaches and vibrant coral reefs.