South Carolina draws travelers in with its layers of history, distinctive regional flavors, and landscapes that range from quiet marshes to mountain trails. In Charleston, cobblestone streets wind past antebellum homes and hidden courtyards. Beaufort, tucked along the Intracoastal Waterway, charms visitors with moss-draped oaks, shrimp boats, and preserved architecture that has earned it comparisons to a living movie set and was indeed, where several films, including *Forrest Gump*, were filmed.

Passau sits on the confluence of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz, so it is fitting that it is known as "the Dreiflüssestadt", which means the “City of Three Rivers.” The historical center offers a cathedral, churches and museums to explore, and the embankment is perfect for a romantic stroll.

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).

Hidden in the northern region of Costa Rica, the Celeste River (Río Celeste) winds through Tenorio Volcano National Park with a color so vivid it seems unreal. The river’s striking turquoise hue is caused by a natural chemical reaction between two mineral-rich streams, Quebrada Agria and Río Buena Vista, which merge at a point known as "El Teñidero." This one-of-a-kind phenomenon creates the illusion that the water has been dyed blue, even though no pigments are present.

American Samoa consists of a group of seven islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, comprising Tutuila; the Manua group, consisting of Tau, Olosega, and Ofu; Aunuu; Rose Island; and Swains Island.