Kerak is a fortress town 75 miles (120km) from Amman, and contains one of the two major Crusader castles in the Kingdom. The castle, built to protect the approach to Jerusalem, stands on a craggy plateau 4,300ft above sea level. It was built in the early part of the 12th century and held for 50 years by the Crusaders until they were defeated by Salah al Din (Saladin) in 1189.

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.

Opatija, located on Croatia’s Kvarner Bay, has been drawing visitors since the 19th century, when Austro-Hungarian aristocrats built grand villas along its Adriatic shoreline. Today, many of those same buildings still stand with some restored as luxury hotels and others preserved as cultural landmarks. The town’s most recognizable structure, Villa Angiolina, opened in 1844 and marked the start of Opatija’s rise as a fashionable seaside resort.

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the U.S., but it offers an outsized variety of experiences, from colonial history to coastline escapes. Founded in 1636 by Roger Williams as a haven for religious freedom, the state still reflects its independent spirit. In Providence, travelers can visit the John Brown House Museum to explore the city’s role in early American commerce, or walk Benefit Street, lined with preserved 18th- and 19th-century homes.

In the central highlands of Mexico lies a rich city, with a culture as colorful as its past. Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, may be best known for its tequila, mariachis and the hat dance, all part of its celebrations. The downtown area is dominated by a huge public square, the Plaza del la Liberacion. Guadalahara's most impressive historical sights are found along this square, as well as museums tracing Mexico's long history.