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.

East of Anchorage and Chugach State Park, College Fjord offers a glimpse into some of Alaska's most beautiful natural landscapes. Located in Prince William Sound, College Fjord is filled with stunning glaciers and is a popular site for Alaskan cruises.

Mirissa, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, is a seaside town that blends golden beaches, turquoise waters, and a laid-back atmosphere. Known for its crescent-shaped bay fringed with palm trees, it offers one of the island’s most inviting spots for swimming, surfing, and lounging by the sea.

Tenby sits on the Pembrokeshire coast of southwest Wales, where medieval walls still encircle a compact town above the sea. Its history as a fortified port is visible in stone ramparts, narrow lanes, and the ruins of Tenby Castle, which overlook the harbor.

This city in the Rhine Gorge is known for its winemaking, dramatic landscapes and 15-minute cable car ride to the Niederwald Monument (celebrating the German victory over France in 1871).