Naha is the cultural and administrative heart of Okinawa Island, shaped by its past as the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Te Anau sits on the edge of New Zealand’s second-largest lake, acting as the unofficial gateway to Fiordland National Park. While it’s often viewed as a starting point for trips to Milford Sound, the town itself offers a slower, more scenic way to experience the South Island’s dramatic landscapes. Te Anau’s lakefront is a mix of walking paths, local birdlife, and wide-open views across snow-dusted peaks.

Copper River, Alaska's fourth largest river travels from the dry interior climate to the temperate rainforest along Prince William Sound.

Merida was once the sprawling capital of the Mayan empire and the center of their universe. Merida is now the center of a cosmopolitan universe, built on Mayan heritage, and given a unique twist by French and Mediterranean immigrants. Days are spent exploring the city's many museums and equally fascinating shopping districts. At night, local music can be heard from just about every park in the city, inviting newcomers to enjoy a romantic and fun-filled evening.

Kaziranga National Park stretches across the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, shaped as much by water as by wildlife.