Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture is a city where samurai history is tangible. Once a stronghold of the Aizu domain, it played a pivotal role in the late Edo period and the Boshin War.

Blair Atholl, a village in the heart of Highland Perthshire, Scotland, is best known as the home of Blair Castle, a striking white-walled fortress that has stood for over seven centuries.

El Calafate, a small town in southern Patagonia, serves as the main gateway to one of Argentina’s most spectacular natural wonders, the Los Glaciares National Park. Sitting on the shores of Lake Argentino, El Calafate was once a quiet outpost known mainly for sheep farming and the hardy calafate berry. Today, it attracts travelers from around the world who come to witness massive ice formations and the shifting blue walls of nearby glaciers.

Palm Beach, located on Aruba’s northwest coast, is the island’s most famous stretch of sand: a two-mile ribbon of soft white shore lined with turquoise waters and a lively resort scene.

Sainte-Rose, located on the eastern coast of Réunion, is a small town where the island’s volcanic character is on full display.