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Prior to a glowing write-up in a major travel publication, you might drive past the white building with peeling paint. But what you’d miss is White Tiger Gourmet, a 100-year old neighborhood grocery store turned casual eatery. An area native and Culinary Institute of America graduate opened White Tiger in 2007. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, the menu features barbecue sandwiches smoked on site, organic salads, vegetarian sandwiches and Southern style biscuits. Seating is a simple affair, either inside in one of the few tables or outside at a wooden picnic table. There aren’t waiters to speak of but your food is brought out and when you’re done you leave the basket and compost or recycle the rest.

When the French created their plan for Casablanca they wanted the city to embody the best of modern Western architecture and traditional Moroccan design. The result is a style called architecture mauresque, blending the facades of French Art Deco with Islamic arches and tile work. Casablanca’s post office, palace of justice and Al-Maghrib Bank are all beautiful examples, best explored on a walking tour of the city center.

The Inca Trail is perhaps the most famous trek in Peru. This is the road to Machu Picchu, an ancient route that leads from the Sacred Valley into the heart of the Andes. You must obtain a permit and hire an official guide in order to hike the Inca Trail proper. There are plenty of tour operators in Cusco that offer trips up to Machu Picchu, so you should definitely look at reviews before you choose. For better or for worse, the tours are all-inclusive. The local tour operators employ porters to carry your packs and set up a camp. A team of local chefs will prepare three meals a day, and many hikers come back raving about the delicious meals. Keep in mind that the trek can be tough, especially in the first few days. The trail is often narrow, and it flirts with formidable heights. The mountains in this part of the Andes can rise well over 13,000 feet, and many hikers find themselves suffering from altitude sickness. Make sure to take a few days (in Cusco or the Sacred Valley) to acclimatize before you begin the journey. Finally: make sure to plan ahead! The Peruvian government limits trail access to 500 people per day, including porters. This regulation protects the local ecosystem and the delicate ruins, and it ensures that the trail won’t be too crowded. However, it also means that permits for the peak summer season sell out months in advance. If you aren’t able to get a permit for the classic Inca Trail, never fear: there are various other trails that lead to Machu Picchu.

Described by writer Tahir Shah as the “greatest show on Earth,” no visit to Marrakech would be complete without a visit to the famous night market on the Djemaa el Fna. Arrive before sunset and park yourself at one of the various cafés with terraces overlooking the square to watch performers set up; then venture into the fray in search of adventure. Silk-clad acrobats, wide-eyed storytellers, sly snake charmers, jangling belly dancers, and capricious monkey handlers all emerge from the darkness, ringing the edge of the food stalls with their own special brand of entertainment. When you tire of the heckling, prowl the market in search of good things to eat: bite-size morsels of grilled lamb rubbed in cumin, sardines fried in chermoula, peppery snails, and sheep’s heads for the brave. Then nudge up alongside a family of locals at the table and settle in for the feast. If you’re nervous about going it alone, you can sign up for a food tour with Canadian tour guide and all-round good egg Mandy Sinclair of Tasting Marrakech; she’ll help you find the best stalls while introducing you to the secrets and delights of traditional Moroccan street food.

In the early 1900s, Lutheran missionaries arrived in the Western Arrernte community of Ntaria (Hermannsburg) about an hour west of Alice Springs. They offered food, shelter and education to the native people long oppressed by the white settlers who came in the wake of the Overland Telegraph Line, completed in 1872. The area was also hit by severe drought. While many cultural and religious shifts took place, perhaps the largest impact of the Hermannsburg missionaries on the indigenous people was the introduction of arts and crafts, namely watercolor and ceramics. Pottery arrived in the early 1970s and was first taught by Victor Jaensch, from Barossa Valley, who helped source local clay and set up a small kiln. The famous desert painter Albert Namatjira blossomed around the same time and had a lasting effect on the budding potters’ style and depiction of country. The first Hermannsburg potters were men, but now it’s largely a woman’s craft that was taught by accomplished ceramicist Naomi Sharp for 17 years. Today the terracotta pots are still made using the traditional hand-coiled technique before being shaped, burnished, decorated, and finally fired to produce distinctive Aboriginal art pieces that have a strong connection to the land and this singular slice of Australian history.

Tempt fate at the Monkey Paw’s Book-O-Matic machine, where for the price of a toonie you’ll be delivered an archaic tome in the vein of Elementary Arabic, Vol. 3. I’ll let you know how my studying gets on. The Monkey’s Paw is an eclectic vintage bookstore on Dundas with a collection of unique books, vintage maps, and bugs preserved in Lucite.

Al Shaqab Hotel, located in Al Shaqab’s equestrian complex in Education City, is quietly implementing an innovative hospitality concept that promotes healthy lifestyles among its guests, with a focus on physical activities and a balanced diet. Al Shaqab Hotel, a two-story building with simple interior style and horse-related art-work, offers a modest number of guest rooms (70), but an abundance of amenities, such as the Stay, Ride, Swim package which includes the use of Marwan Club –a fitness club equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, equestrian riding packages, swimming pool, steam and sauna rooms, a Kids zone, and facility tours. True to its vision to promote wellness, the hotel does not serve alcohol, has a no-smoking policy, and houses The Chef’s Garden restaurant, which with its “farm-to-table” concept gets most of its produce from Al Safwa Farm, Qatar’s only licensed organic farm. This hotels appeals to horse lovers, those guests with children interested in horses, and horse-riders appreciative of the nearby world-class riding facilities. Rooms at this oasis-like hotel start at QR495 ($135) pn/pp. B&B packages including one-hour riding sessions are QR955 ($260) for a double room or QR1,340 ($368) for a family of four. For reservations, send an email at [email protected] or call +974-4470-7400.

Lone Star Court is a modern hotel with a timeless twist. Inspired by the motor courts of yesteryear, guests experience in retro-style accommodations and first-rate hospitality. Adding to the property’s rustic charm are an outdoor dipping pool, Airstream food truck, and courtyard fire pits. Live bands play every Wednesday through Saturday in the hotel’s bar, the Water Trough. The hotel’s location in North Austin makes it accessible to many of the city’s points of interest.

Go to the corniche, and go on a dhow cruise. You can see spectacular museums and buildings and markets anywhere in the world, but a cruise aboard a traditional Qatari wooden boat is an experience unique to Qatar. You can hire the dhows by the hour to take you around the bay for the opportunity to see the city from the sea, or go on a three- to four-hour evening dhow cruise with dinner, traditional music and entertainment for around QR330 ($100) per person, although prices are negotiable. Cash only. No credit cards are accepted on the boat. For a list of cruise companies check qatartourism.gov.qa

Whether you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo, a romantic anniversary or the fact that it’s Wednesday and you’re in Bermuda, Rosa’s Bermuda makes a great lunch or dinner spot. Located on Front Street, above the Docksider Pub & Restaurant, Rosa’s overlooks Hamilton Harbor. Rosa’s features all of the traditional Mexican menu staples you would expect: tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, and the like. A signature margarita menu offers 10 different tequilas from which to choose as well as wine, beer, and cocktail selections. Gosling’s Black Seal rum is, of course, on the list of libations. Not in the mood for Mexican? No problem. Rosa’s also serves wings, wraps, burgers, ribeye steak, seafood, and the recently awarded number one fish sandwich in Bermuda. Photo by Jeffreyw/Flickr/CC

The woodblock prints from ukiyo-e artist Hokusai first introduced me to Japan’s most iconic volcano. Between 1826 and 1833, Hokusai traveled to many provinces in Japan to see Mount Fuji from different vantage points as represented in his works Great Wave off Kanagawa, Watermill at Onden, and Nihonbashi bridge in Edo in order to produce the famous “36 views of Mount Fuji” series. I have always loved these graphic prints and was determined to get at least one view of this magnetic mountain in my lifetime. During my stay at Hoshinoya Fuji, I was able to get the same view that Hokusai etched almost two centuries ago in print number #35 of the series: Mount Fuji reflected in Lake Kawaguchi.

Set northeast of Lake Kawaguchi, Hoshino Fuji is the destination for those interested in “glamping” and exploring Japan’s natural side. Barely a year old, the resort rises like concrete tree houses among the red pine forest. Upon check-in you’ll be given a backpack with headlight, water bottle, snacks and portable blanket to urge you on for nearby adventures. Around the resort, camping elements are incorporated with hammocks between the pines, open camp-fires at the Cloud Terrace, and portable in-room coffee kit. Each cabin has a plush bed, minimal furniture and a balcony for panoramic views of the lake and Mount Fuji.

You can “rough it” with nature outside, but I couldn’t resist pampering myself with the amenities provided by the resort. My perfect morning started with a bath scented with hinoki and flowers before a wholesome breakfast with fresh baked bread on my private balcony. During the day you can go out for a hike or kayak or learn how to smoke food from one of the members of staff. In the evening, learn how to cook over an open fire from the chefs before you enjoy the best dinner with local meat and vegetables. The staff at Hoshinoya Fuji thought of all the details that would create a great camping trip and combined it with the attentiveness of a luxury hotel to create a truly unforgettable experience. A work of art led me here and I can’t wait to return and experience this level of hospitality again.

The Taj Mahal is referred to as “the jewel of Muslim art in India,” by UNESCO in its listing on the World Heritage Site registry. The Mughal ruler Shah Jahan had the truly magnificent white marble mausoleum built in 1632–1648, in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. For its construction, artisans from all over the empire, Central Asia, Iran, were summoned and the final result of their stonework, calligraphy, carvings, gardening, woodwork, and soaring domes remains one of the universally admired masterpieces of world heritage. Allot ample time to tour the site—besides the mausoleum, there is a mosque, a guest house, cloisters, courtyards, gates, and vast gardens. In addition to being stunningly beautiful from afar, the iconic site is evocatively romantic and up-close, the intricate details in its architecture, ornamentation, and history, are revealed.

Located deep in the heart of the Iwokrama Rainforest Preserve, Atta Rainforest Lodge is operated by Wilderness Explorers. It offers accommodation in eight simple, but still comfortable, rooms in a long brick building. Each is equipped with mosquito netting over the beds, and has an attached al fresco toilet and cold water shower (don’t worry, it’s so steamy outside you won’t miss the hot water -- plus showering under the stars at night is a bucket-list worthy experience). Meals are served family style and focus on local staples including fresh fish and meat -- BBQ nights are the best. Everything tastes fresh and delicious and we love how friendly the staff is. At night there is little to do (again no cell signal, limited Wi-Fi, and no TV), so our group amused ourselves drinking rum in the bar and playing charades. The guides will also take you for night walks where you can see cool bugs like the Whip Spider. The real highlight here, however, is doing the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway. Although some canopies were destroyed recently, the remaining ones form a series of suspension bridges and platforms 100 feet above the rain forest floor. Walking across the rickety (but safe) bridge is an adrenaline experience in its own right, but make sure to stop and look around, as the views are magnificent, and you’ll likely hear and see howler monkeys and other indigenous fauna. Note the walk to the platforms is intense and straight uphill -- wear proper shoes and bring water.

Right in the heart of the Flatiron District, this swanky cocktail joint evokes the bygone days of the Jazz Era—and has one of the most extensive bar menus around, too. You can almost see Frank Sinatra propped up in the corner of the Art Deco-style room, sipping his gentleman’s drink (that’s Jack Daniel’s with a splash of water). All ingredients are freshly muddled, minced, and made to order; the drink menu changes with the seasons. Try a martini if you lean toward the classics or dive into a specialty cocktail, like the Devil Went Down to Georgia (bourbon, lemon, peach, and Tabasco) or the aptly named Dying Bastard (gin, Cognac, bourbon, housemade lime cordial, ginger, and Angostura bitters). If you’ve got the whole evening ahead of you, go one step further and order the cocktail flight of the day so you can sample a little bit of everything.

If you want a more back-to-nature romantic sleep, head off the main island of Providenciales and onto the less resort oriented Grand Turk and stay at the historic Grand Turk Inn. A charming bed-and-breakfast in a 150-plus year old Caribbean clapboard inn, it doesn’t allow children under the age of 16, and has an old fashioned allure, where time still feels like it moves slowly. In a prime Front Street location, it was originally build as the Methodist Manse, but today has been converted into a stately B&B with just five elegant, sunny suites and overlooks the beach and turquoise waters of the Columbus Landfall National Park. Despite the historic style of the inn, rooms are modern and have satellite TV and air-con, as well as full kitchens and West Indies colonial era furnishings made from rattan and bamboo. Don’t skip the huge rooftop sundeck facing the ocean and historic waterfront. The included breakfast is delivered to your room each morning based on your menu selection from the night before. There is also an on-site restaurant serving an Asian influenced menu. Also take a stroll down Front Street to explore more restaurants and listen to local artists playing nightly on the street.