Alter do Chão is a riverside village in the Brazilian state of Pará, on the banks of the clear Tapajós River. Though part of the larger municipality of Santarém, Alter do Chão has its own rhythm and identity, known far beyond Brazil for the white-sand beaches that appear when river levels drop between July and December. One of the most famous spots is Ilha do Amor (Love Island), a sandbar just off the village shore that feels almost like a hidden world of warm water and bright sky.

Brasília may be a World Heritage Site, but it is only of interest to town planning and architecture students, and those keen to witness the folly of man on a metropolitan scale. It must have looked good on paper, and still looks good in photos, but in the flesh, forget it. Designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, urban planner Lucio Costa, and landscape architect Burle Marx, the city was built in an incredible three years between 1957 and 1960.

Eskişehir, located in northwestern Turkey, is a city where old meets new in unexpected ways. Known for its youthful vibe due to its two major universities, the city is also deeply rooted in history. It sits along the Porsuk River, which winds through lively neighborhoods and parks. The riverfront, once mostly industrial, has been transformed into a place where gondolas pass under bridges and locals gather at riverside cafes.

Montgomery, capital of Alabama and seat of Montgomery County, a port on the Alabama River, in the central part of the state. Montgomery is the site of Alabama State University (1874), Auburn University at Montgomery (1967), Huntingdon College (1854), Troy State University at Montgomery (1966), Faulken University (1942), and a junior college.

Sharing a common lagoon with Raiatean and accessible only by boat, Taha'a produces about 80% of all vanilla in French Polynesia. Taha'a is the only island in the Society Islands that can be completely circled by boat inside the protected lagoon.