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They don’t serve drinks at this bar, but festive libations are not the draw to this part of the sea. Not far from the beach at the Westin Puntacana Resort & Club—we’re talking maybe 200 feet—rests a massive sand bar surrounded by beautiful coral reef. Catamaran trips deliver passengers to this blissful patch of sand, though it’s never that crowded; there’s space for 100 or more people to chill out at once, but only about a dozen are present at any given time. There’s something unique about standing on sand in what can feel like the center of the sea, and if you’re a decent swimmer, you can make it out here on your own with little issue (though it’s usually more fun to visit a bar with your friends).

My idea of a good time is getting lost in the woods all so I can spend a few days finding my way home, but I can’t deny the allure of glamping – especially when it comes packaged up in the form of the Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge, the Northern Territory’s answer to rustic chic. The luxury eco-cabins – fully heated and air conditioned – are wonderful, but there’s little reason to tuck yourself away inside when you can sip Aussie wine by the fire, or enjoy a gourmet meal under starry skies (or in the lodge restaurant on chilly winter nights). The last thing I expected to tuck into in the Outback was a spicy prawn curry, but I shouldn’t have been surprised – the Northern Territory has plenty of tricks up her sleeve.

Miles City is usually a nice, quiet place - a quaint eastern Montana town, known for its laid-back pace, outdoor access, and Western graces. But when the Bucking Horse Sale rides into town, things can get a little hectic. Just ask the poor cowboys pictured here what they think of the pace of Miles City. 2016 will mark the 66th edition of the famed Bucking Horse Sale, so put a note in your calendar now, shine up your cowboy boots and poke around in your closet for that dusty wide-brimmed hat of yours - there’s a rodeo, horse races, dances, cowboy concerts, and more to see to.

This is a 5-star boutique hotel located in the heart of Montreal, across the street from the Centre Bell, home of Les Montréal Canadiens, and tucked along famed rue Sainte-Catherine. Was I blown away during my stay here? Yeah, and then some. After checking in, I was greeted by a frosty bucket filled with my favorite beer, tossed the curtains back to reveal the stunning view of downtown Montreal, then scrambled up to the 12th floor for a dip in the saltwater pool, and relaxed in the outdoor hot tub as the day rolled along. I rarely thought about leaving. I dined at La Coupole and had a few cocktails in the Wine Bar, and... well, that’s enough. Things got out of hand from there. I spent four nights at Hotel Crystal, and had what is to date my best hotel experience in my homeland.

Located in Park City‘s renovated Masonic Hall on historic Main Street, the Riverhorse caters to a high-end fine-dining crowd. Seth Adams, the executive chef and co-owner who drives the seasonally appropriate creative menu, has brought home prestigious awards, including a few that were firsts in the state of Utah. While the Riverhorse has a great selection of wine, it does allow patrons to bring in their own bottles for a $25 corkage fee. The restaurant is family friendly, with healthy selections on the kids’ menu. Dress is “mountain casual,” and reservations are strongly encouraged.

If you’ve ever wandered into Sheridan’s Historic Downtown, you may have been greeted by a Bozeman scout, a Tree of Life, or a Tin Man with a huge heart. Downtown Sheridan is home to more than 60 unique pieces of outdoor art, evidence that a modest public art project that was launched in 2001 with eight sculptures has become something of a community phenomenon. From Jerry McKellar’s beloved Huckleberry Daze grizzly bear to D. Michael Thomas’ epic Cool Waters cowboy at Whitney Commons, Sheridan’s community art sculptures are curious, creative, and unique. Sheridan is likely the only place in America where you can watch cowboys lock horns with Rhinos, try on a giant steel War Bonnet, or peek inside a metal goat’s gut. You can support community art by sponsoring your favorite sculpture, or test your own artistic mettle by submitting your next masterpiece for consideration to the Sheridan Public Arts Committee.

Polo has been a part of life in Sheridan County since the 1890s, when Malcolm and William Moncrieffe, ranchers with deep Scottish roots, began teaching the game to their cowhands in order to muster the numbers required to start a match. The game has grown by leaps and bounds in the hundred years since, with Bighorn, Wyoming’s Flying H Polo Club continually hosting many of the world’s greatest players during summertime matches. The Flying H, nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Bighorn Mountains, is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon; I caught my first polo match back in the summer of 2011, and was enthralled by the speed of the game, the grace of the horses, and the skill of the strikers. I never thought I’d visit a polo pitch in Wyoming, and I certainly didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. The best part? Admission to the Flying H is free on match days (Thursday and Saturday).

This three-mile stretch of white sand is the only public beach at the gated Puntacana Resort & Club. Even so, non-guests can only reach the beach after dining at the resort’s oceanfront Playa Blanca Restaurant. It’s worth it, though, as the calm turquoise water is ideal for swimming, kayaking, and catamaran sailing. A mesh barrier keeps seaweed out of the swimming and beach areas, ensuring pristine water and sand as far as the eye can see.

Technically, the marine iguana isn’t a salt spitter, it’s a salt snorter. Adapted to sea life, the marine iguana dives for seaweed and algae, then basks in the sun to increase it’s body temperature. During this time, the excess salt is filtered through a nasal gland; it’s not uncommon to walk among a large group of iguanas and have them snort salt all over your shoes. At first it’s a bit unnerving to walk among a million tiny dinosaurs as they lay about catching rays, but it doesn’t take long for the spectacular scenery of Punta Espinoza and Fernandina to overwhelm any lingering sense of trepidation.

I may have an unhealthy fascination with the blue-footed booby; I’m speaking to someone about it. An iconic emblem of the Galapagos Islands, the booby is everywhere, and it’s much larger than I anticipated. It hops about with one foot in the air as a way to attract a mate, it dives out of the air with all the wanton fury of a dog fighter, and it sings a merry tune for anyone willing to listen. The booby’s days are busy, and it deserves a nap now and then. You can spot the booby just about everywhere out here. Santiago Island makes for an especially striking backdrop.

The Citadel National Historic Site is one of the most important and iconic preservation areas in Canada, and a must-see on any visit to the East Coast — but seeing it like this is an extra-special adventure. Hours of Operation: May 7 - June 30 – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. July & August – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The grounds of the Halifax Citadel remain open for visitation year round; during the Nov. 1-May 6 period visitors are invited to wander the inside of the fort, including the ramparts (closed if snow covered), and can imagine what the fort would have been like back in 1869. The noon gun fires daily. Vision Air Services provides spectacular aerial tours of Halifax and the surrounding areas out of Robert L. Stanfield International Airport. Packages begin at $148/hr per person.

A visit to John Watling’s Distillery offers both a tour of a historic estate in downtown Nassau and the opportunity to sample locally made John Watling’s rum. The distillery, the only locally owned one on the island, is housed in the Buena Vista Estate, which began construction in 1789. The estate grounds encompass tropical gardens and a 200-year-old water well. Visitors can also take a free tour of the museum and distillery, where you can see the aged white oak barrels filled with rum. Finish the tour with a cocktail from the on-site Red Turtle Tavern, or pick a bottle of John Watling’s rum from the store.

Possibly the most important and influential publishers of graphic novels in the last 20 years, Drawn & Quarterly has a must-visit shop in the cool Mile End neighborhood. It sells work from the extensive D&Q catalog (which includes Joe Sacco, Lynda Barry, and Adrian Tomine) and from other publishers. Check out 184 Rue Beaubien by local graphic artist Cyril Doisneau.

Admit it. Come on. You saw butter museum in the title and you giggled. Then you made a promise to yourself to visit this place the next time you’re in Ireland. I don’t blame you. I did the same thing. This may very well be the most boring museum in the entire world, but it’s boring in a great way - you’ll laugh and chuckle and poke your travel companion in the ribs as you tour through this place, as you sit through the excruciating 30-minute informational butter videos, as you churn, baby, churn! It’s all in good fun, and the museum is housed in a beautiful building in Old Cork, so it’s worth checking out on those merits alone. And you know you want to tell your friends you visited the Butter Museum in Ireland. You know you do.

It was raining when we arrived in Donostia-San Sebastian, but the skies cleared on our second day, and we rode the funicular railway up Mount Igueldo to take in the view back on the city, La Concha Bay, and the empty beach. The “low” travel season had just begun, and the strange little children’s amusement park on the mountaintop had shuttered up for the fall and winter, adding just the right disorienting touch of weird desolation to the Basque country panorama.