Australia and New Zealand each have their own identities, shaped by indigenous heritage, colonial history, and vibrant contemporary cultures. Visitors can travel between the two in just a few hours, yet find themselves in entirely different worlds.

Gainesville is a north-central Florida city known for its university community, natural areas, and strong connection to education and research. The city is home to the University of Florida, whose campus is a major part of local life and culture. Gainesville is surrounded by rolling terrain, freshwater springs, forests, and wetlands, giving it a landscape that differs from Florida’s coastal cities.

Nangma Valley, tucked deep within the Karakoram Range of northern Pakistan, is a place where towering granite spires rise dramatically above alpine meadows and clear streams. Located near the small town of Hushé in Gilgit-Baltistan, the valley is often described as a natural amphitheater of peaks. Climbers and trekkers from around the world are drawn to its vertical walls, but the valley’s quiet trails and sweeping views also offer an extraordinary experience .

Seward is a coastal city at the head of Resurrection Bay on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Mountains rise around the community, while its harbor opens toward the Gulf of Alaska. The city is an important gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and a center for commercial fishing, marine transportation, and outdoor recreation. Seward also marks the southern terminus of the historic Iditarod Trail.

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).