Death Valley, California, is a land of extremes that captures the imagination with its striking desert landscapes and surreal beauty. Located in the Mojave Desert, it is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the United States. Visitors are drawn to its iconic features, such as the vast salt flats of Badwater Basin, which at 282 feet below sea level, mark the lowest point in North America.

Most people visit Gallipoli for the chilling, contemplative sites of Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. To honor the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives at battle here, this peninsula was made into a National Park.

Bran, a small village nestled in the Carpathian Mountains of central Romania, is best known for its medieval fortress commonly referred to as “Dracula’s Castle.” While the connection to Bram Stoker’s fictional character is loose at best, Bran Castle continues to draw travelers with its striking towers, stone walls, and position on a rocky cliff. Originally built in the 14th century to defend against invading forces, the castle has passed through royal hands, most notably Queen Marie of Romania.

Merida was once the sprawling capital of the Mayan empire and the center of their universe. Merida is now the center of a cosmopolitan universe, built on Mayan heritage, and given a unique twist by French and Mediterranean immigrants. Days are spent exploring the city's many museums and equally fascinating shopping districts. At night, local music can be heard from just about every park in the city, inviting newcomers to enjoy a romantic and fun-filled evening.

Jamestown is the capital and main settlement of St. Helena, a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. The town lies in a narrow valley opening onto the sea, with steep volcanic cliffs rising on both sides and historic buildings lining the main streets. Its compact centre contains many surviving structures associated with the island’s East India Company heritage, reflecting Jamestown’s former role as an important mid-Atlantic port.