Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore occupies a long stretch of northwestern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula along Lake Michigan, protecting towering dunes, sandy beaches, forests, inland lakes, and steep coastal bluffs. The protected area extends across the Leelanau and Benzie county region and includes the Manitou Islands offshore. Its most recognizable feature is the Sleeping Bear Dune, which rises high above Lake Michigan and the surrounding landscape.

Elafonisi is a coastal area in southwestern Crete, known for a shallow lagoon, pale sand mixed with pink shell fragments, and a narrow sandy crossing to a small offshore island. The beach lies within a protected Natura 2000 landscape that supports sea lilies, rare plants, seabirds, and other wildlife.

This hilly Aegean island, legendary birthplace of the goddess Hera, rests along a narrow strait across from the Turkish coast. Stroll through the streets of Old Town, lined with Turkish-style houses. Visit the Archarological Museum, housing artifacts from the Hearion, and be sure to view the lighted harbor at night. Also explore the 6th century AD Eupalina Tunnel, an enormous aqueduct built through the mountains to supply the city with water.

Queenstown started off as a major gold mining area, based around the Queen River Valley. This then developed into a profitable copper mining area, which was still running until 1969. There are a variety of things to do in Queenstown, and it is a good base from which to explore western Tasmania.

Rundu is the capital of Namibia’s Kavango East Region and a major town on the southern bank of the Kavango River, opposite Angola. Unlike much of Namibia’s dry interior, the area around Rundu is shaped by a permanent river, wooded floodplains, and fertile land used for small-scale agriculture.