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Too often us intrepid experiential travelers can get caught up in the whole effort of trying to do it all. “I must explore this off-the-map place!” “I have to try this exotic dish!” It’s easy to forget that sometimes the best way to get to know a place is to simply stroll aimlessly. Luckily, Barbados makes it an attractive prospect.

Singapore Zoo has been recognized as a leader in creating naturalistic habitats since its opening in 1973, using concealed moats to separate animals from visitors and incorporating a local reservoir into the landscaping. There are dozens of themed exhibits here! Some highlights include the Fragile Forest, where guests enter a massive biodome that re-creates the diversity of the rain forest, and the Reptile Garden, home to Komodo dragons and giant tortoises. At the adjacent Night Safari experience, guests walk or travel in trams from tropical to mountain habitation zones, where rhinos, elephants, tigers, and some 130 other species can be observed.

Yes, Hauz Khas Village is perhaps most known for its artsy vibe, boutique shops, and trendy restaurants. But before it became a lively commercial district, Hauz Kaus was (and remains) a 13th-century historical complex with a mosque, tombs, and an Islamic seminary. Take a break from the bustle of shopping and dining to explore the sites from Muslim royalty, then spend some time at the charming lake with its swans, ducks, and other wildlife.

Throughout Luzern, so many of the buildings have crazy, wild paintings all over them. Loving it! Wish more buildings in Brisbane were like this!

Seattle’s largest public park sits on a sea bluff that’s high enough to pierce the city’s infamous fog, revealing gorgeous views of the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. Wander its 11 miles (18 km) of paths through forest groves, meadows fringing coastal cliffs, and active sand dunes on the protected tidal beaches. Once a military installation, the area now serves as an open space and wildlife sanctuary. Stop into the Daybreak Star Center, which celebrates American Indian culture and hosts the city’s powwow in mid-July. Around 25 drum groups and 500 dancers converge here for the event, along with close to 10,000 spectators.

The Pont Alexandre III bridge is probably one of the most striking structures to cross the Seine in Paris. It links the quarter of the Champs-Élysées to the Invalides and Eiffel Tower quarter in a most extravagant fashion. The golden statues of Pegasus appear to watch over the city, and if you stare long enough you are convinced that he might just depart his perch and soar off into the Parisian sky.

Originally the Place d’Armes, the Place de la Liberté was renamed in 1889 to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution. The square is bound on the north side by the impressive Grand Hôtel. Now an office building that also contains the Théâtre Liberté, the hôtel provides a perfect backdrop to the dramatic late-19th-century Fountain of the Federation, a dramatic composition complete with triumphant sculptures and splashing jets of water.

Located on an uninhabited island near Qaqortoq, the Uunartoq Hot Springs is the country’s only naturally heated outdoor spa. These waters have been a destination for locals and travelers alike for over 1,000 years—legend has it that Leif Eriksson bathed in the springs before beginning his expedition to North America. Plan on taking half a day to journey to the island and back if you want to splash around in the great outdoors while enjoying the unparalleled mountain and iceberg views.

Years before Punta del Este became a destination on the travel radar, Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal installed one of the area’s most popular attractions, the public sculpture known as La Mano (The Hand). It’s also called Los Dedos (The Fingers), for its five fingers pushing up out of the sand on Playa Brava. Designed as part of an open-air sculpture exhibition in 1982, the fingers represent a warning, for the waters behind it tend to be rough. Many visitors are probably unaware of its meaning as they pause to pose for a photo with the hand.

While White House Bay is becoming more widely known since SALT Plage restaurant opened on its shores, it’s always had a reputation for offering the best snorkeling on St. Kitts. Off the rocky beach, you’ll find calm waters and two notable wrecks—a sunken tugboat and an 18th-century British troop ship—to explore. A popular anchorage, the beach also features a chic bar, making it a favorite of the yacht set.

Despite being so close to the harbor and the ocean, Reykjavík’s city lake has a charm and atmosphere all its own. Bordered by a main road on one side and a string of pretty, colorful residences on the other, the natural, stone-edged Tjörnin is home to a community of ducks, swans, and geese that hang out here even in winter. A popular strolling spot to clear the cobwebs after a night out, it’s also often busy with local families and visitors, who come armed with bread for the waterfowl (but beware of the seagulls—they can be aggressive). The nearby Reykjavík City Hall is also worth a look for its huge 3-D relief map of Iceland, featuring clearly marked glaciers, volcanoes, and fjords.

This 30-square-kilometer (11-square-mile) protected habitat is located in the northeastern part of Saint Martin. Walking trails traverse the varied landscape, and there’s a wooden path through the mangroves, a winding passage over the arid forest, plus multiple lakes and a beach. Among the wildlife are tropical birds as well as iguanas and sea turtles. The surrounding waters are also protected, and dive outfitters provide snorkeling gear and instruction.

You have two choices for how to access the beach at Isaac Bay: Either hike from Jack’s Bay or arrive by boat. The hike is worth the extra effort. The breathtaking beach is home to nests of hawksbill and green turtles. (Keep your distance, though; the nurseries are protected by the Nature Conservatory.) The calm and deep waters of secluded Isaac Bay make it great for swimming and even better for snorkeling.

Separating the islands of Maui and Molokai—at little more than eight miles at its narrowest point—the Pailolo Channel is one of the windiest in the Hawaiian Islands. This means swimming and water sports in and around the channel are only for the very experienced. Some believe that Pailolo combines pai (lift) and olo’olo (shifting), while others say the name means “crazy fisherman,” in reference to the rough sea conditions. The annual Pailolo Challenge, held in September, is a 26-mile course from D.T. Fleming Beach Park on Maui to Kaunakakai Pier on Molokai—one of Hawaii’s best downwind runs.

Stretching along the Narrows—the channel between St. Kitts and its sister island, Nevis—Cockleshell Bay’s powdered sands and crystalline waters are among the island’s prettiest. The beach is a popular place to swim, snorkel, or sip cocktails while listening to live local music.