ABERDEEN -- Scotland's third-largest city (pop. 187,000) is characterized by buildings of beautiful white granite. Set beside the North Sea, Aberdeen is both a university town and the capital of the Scottish oil boom. It is also one of Scotland's largest seaside resorts (though its appeal is confined to those who like their water well-chilled).

Koh Rong is a large island in the Gulf of Thailand, off the coast of Sihanoukville in southwestern Cambodia. The island combines long sandy beaches, tropical forest, rocky coves, and clear coastal waters, with small villages and tourism areas spread around the shoreline. Koh Touch is the main settlement and arrival point, while Sok San and Prek Svay are among the other communities on the island.

Pikes Peak, located in the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, offers visitors an awe-inspiring natural experience. The Pikes Peak Highway, which ascends to the summit, allows travelers to reach the top by car, making it a popular choice for those looking to experience high-altitude vistas without the strenuous hike.

Oslob is a coastal municipality in southern Cebu, Philippines, facing the Bohol Strait. The area combines a historic town center with fishing communities, beaches, coral-rich waters, and mountainous terrain rising inland. Oslob is best known for its marine tourism, particularly whale shark encounters, but it also has cultural and natural attractions away from the coast.

Periyar is a forested highland destination in Kerala’s Idukki district, centered on the Periyar Tiger Reserve and the town of Thekkady. Set within the Western Ghats, the region combines wooded hills, evergreen forests, grasslands, streams, and the large Periyar Lake. The tiger reserve covers about 925 square kilometres and supports an extensive range of wildlife. Its landscape is particularly associated with Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, gaur, sambar deer, wild dogs, and rich birdlife.