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If you only have three days in Seattle, dive into the PNW groove. Visit Pike Place Market, ride the Ferris wheel or head to the top of the Space Needle to get some perspective on the layout of the city, eat fresh-caught shellfish and drink craft beer and coffee, hear some music, read some books, see some art, and start planning your next visit.

A refugee-turned-doctor takes the trip of a lifetime, tracking gorillas through the wilds of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Love to shop? Head out on a weekend shopping romp in the hip Chilean capital. Start in designer-driven Barrio Italia and continue with a visit to Lastarria or posh Vitacura with jewelry, young independent designers, and fashionable stores.

Whether you’re looking for an ultramodern take on Tokyo, like the one you’ll find in Shibuya, or something like Nakameguro, where you’ll find trendy restaurants and shops, as well as residential streets, Tokyo has neighborhoods that will give you a distinctive taste of Japan. Find old temples and cutting edge art galleries, neighborhoods where sassy teenagers pose in outlandish outfits and shopping streets that boggle the mind (and fill up the suitcase). Welcome to Tokyo, land of the past, present, and future.

Tianzifang is a must while you’re in Shanghai, but the maze of alleys and shops can be slightly overwhelming for first-timers. Here are a few of my favorite places—from funky shops to cool barrooms—to seek out while you’re wandering.

When Texans think about shopping on a grand scale, they think of Galleria Dallas. The expansive, multi-level retail hub is shopaholic central, with more than 200 stores and restaurants ranging from budget-chic shop H&M to Nordstrom. Go for a spin on the ice rink, then rest your feet and dive into a Mambo Taxi at Mi Cocina.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent Vendela Vida on a spontaneous journey to St. Maarten.

Fitting the best of the city’s cosmopolitan shopping and dining, natural landmarks, creative vibes, and historical heritage into one day is ambitious but not impossible. The day should include a way to experience South Africa’s unique beauty with trip to Table Mountain and to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, a chance to taste its multicultural cuisine (along with a glass of Cape wine, of course), a scenic drive to a sunny beach, a stop by some shops and galleries in Woodstock, Bo Kaap, or on Bree Street, and a chance to honor the city’s history and culture.

One traveler returns to Laos.

How do you make sense of diverse, dizzying São Paolo? Talk to the people who make the sushi, spray the graffiti, and build the giant watermelons.

A perfect day in Doha may involve a trip to the desert for the thrill of dune bashing and a swim, or a few hours shopping for traditional souvenirs at Souq Waqif, or breakfast, lunch, and dinner at three of the many fine cuisine restaurants in the city, or a visit to the Museum of Islamic Art or to the private collection of Sheikh Faisal, or a leisurely walk along the corniche, or window shopping for luxury cars at The Pearl, or a dhow dinner cruise. The options are endless.

Give yourself a break from Barcelona’s noise and traffic and travel to another time and place: life as lived in Catalonia’s smaller villages and historic old towns. Stroll medieval bridges, hike around stone houses that hang onto green hills for dear life, and enjoy a breather from the crowded streets of Barcelona. Foodies can shop in tiny artisan shops for charcuterie, cheeses and bread or eat traditional and nouvelle cuisine made from seasonal and locally sourced ingredients

On the Caribbean island of Tobago, you’ll find sand, surf—and the fastest goats on the planet. Now if they’d just run in a straight line….

Stay in downtown Minneapolis for modern amenities and immediate access to dining, shopping, and entertainment. The city center is also a transportation hub with easy access to trails, buses, and the metro, all of which will quickly get you into nature, neighboring districts, and nearby St. Paul.

Staying in Midtown Manhattan is great if you’re planning to see Broadway shows and wander the paths of Central Park, but if your NYC itinerary includes dining out in Greenwich Village and shopping Soho and cocktails in the Financial District, you may want to consider one of these downtown hotels.