The Whitsunday Islands sit in the heart of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where more than 70 islands rise from wide blue seas and offer an invitation to explore. Whitsunday Island itself is the largest of this group, known internationally for its ribbon of white silica sand stretching over seven kilometers at Whitehaven Beach. This sand feels cool underfoot even in warm sunshine because it’s made of nearly pure silica carried there by ancient ocean currents.

Brest sits at the western edge of Brittany, facing the Atlantic and shaped by its role as a strategic naval port. Much of the city was rebuilt after World War II, giving it a modern layout that contrasts with older Breton towns, yet its history remains closely tied to the sea.

Normandy is a province along the Northwestern coast of France. It was the site of the important World War II landings and battle and one of the most fascinating regions of France. This land is rich in legend and scenic splendor. Visit coastal villages, museums, fortresses and fragrant gardens.

Cuernavaca, often called the “City of Eternal Spring,” has long been a retreat for those seeking warm weather and relaxing surroundings just 90 minutes from Mexico City. With a history that stretches back to the Aztec empire, the city is layered with centuries of cultural change. The historic center of Cuernavaca combines architecture from multiple eras, with narrow streets leading to quiet plazas and colonial churches.

Madagascar, the world’s fourth-largest island, lies off the southeastern coast of Africa and is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and unique landscapes. Its rainforests, spiny deserts, and highland plateaus provide habitats for species found nowhere else on Earth.