Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is known for its wide sweep of white-sand beaches and warm Caribbean waters. Once a quiet stretch of coastline lined with coconut palms, it has grown into one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations while still offering plenty of spots that feel calm and remote.

Who would have thought, back in the tumultuous coup and counter coup days of the 1970s, that Burkina Faso would become the cultural darling of West Africa? Unlikely as it seems, Burkina Faso has become the Utah of West Africa, hosting a biennial film festival that rivals the Sundance Film Festival for cultural clout. When it's not hosting film festivals, it's busy organizing its other biennial cultural festival.

Raglan, on New Zealand’s North Island, is a coastal town that has earned international renown for its surf culture while retaining a bohemian, community-centered spirit.

One of the four islands that make up the British Virgin Islands, Jost van Dyke is a Caribbean paradise known for its white sand beaches, turquoise sea pools, and marinas filled with yachts.

Australia’s Port Douglas is a tropical escape tucked between two natural wonders: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.