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Philadelphia is full of history but has also a foot in the modern world with seriously good restaurants, indie shops, and a great music scene. Hotels, too, have come to the forefront with modern design, top-notch amenities, and world-class service.

With expansive, pearly beaches that are practically deserted, warm, azure waters just begging to be swum in, the odd beach boy selling juicy coconuts, and traditional dhows sailing past in the background, it’s not hard to see why the Kenyan coast has been enticing visitors for years on end. This is the perfect place to relax after a few days spent bumping along dirt tracks on safari, or to hone your kitesurfing, snorkeling, or scuba diving skills.

Galveston is only an hour drive away from Houston, making it the perfect escape for a day or weekend trip. With over 30 miles of beaches, Victorian neighborhoods, shopping, and entertainment, Galveston is earning the reputation as the Gulf Coast’s playground. The city has experienced a tourism boom in recent years after being hit hard by Hurricane Ike in 2008. Major efforts were put into rebuilding Galveston – restoring not only its charm, but also its spirit.

Over the last decade Copenhagen has charged onto the international culinary scene, with New Nordic cuisine becoming famous around the world. Emphasizing simplicity, freshness, and innovation, New Nordic is almost synonymous with Copenhagen’s Noma restaurant, but there are many restaurants around the Danish capital offering their own twists on the New Nordic genre.

Italy’s fashion capital is of course full of stylish hotels. Luxury brand behemoths such as Armani and Bulgari both opened hotels in the city designed to embody their beloved aesthetics. A former fashion editor masterminded the three chic apartments at the intimate 3 Rooms Corso Como hotel. Park Hyatt Milan has a dreamy setting in an 18th-century palazzo, while the Seven Stars Galleria boasts a unique location in the oldest shopping mall in the world.

Monaco has more to offer than casinos, yachts, and fancy race cars. The Monte Carlo Beach Hotel reminds guests of the city’s glitterati glory days. The casino may steal the spotlight at Le Fairmont Monte-Carlo, but the Nobu restaurant and stellar spa deserve equal attention. Grand Prix fans will want to book a room at Port Palace for its terrific race views, not to mention harbor location. Housed in a 1900s Italianate-style palace, Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo delivers over the top glamour.

The true gateway to southern Italy, Naples is home to some of the world’s most famous foods, but it’s also the base of a cultural collision that would make a surrealist happy. Nearly anyone who is anyone in the history of the Mediterranean has tromped through the city and left their mark including Spaniards, Ancient Romans, Arabs, Fascists, and American GIs after the war.

It may be hard to imagine feeling the necessity to skip town when the capital has so much to offer. But to really understand France - its people, culture, values and storied past - you’ll need to reach beyond the well-heeled streets of Paris. Some of these spots make ideal day trips from the city while others deserve your undivided attention. All are picture- perfect so keep your cameras handy.

Mexico’s Pacific Coast is where Mexican beach tourism began. Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán-- the names hark back to bygone eras of mid-Century Hollywood royalty and the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. The allure of Mexico’s Pacific Coast has not vanished. Old town Mazatlán overlooking the beach, Sayulita surfing and fish tacos, fun-loving Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco in all its cliff-diving glory--these magical places and more await the visitor to Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

A short drive from San Sebastián, the village of Getaria sits sleepily on the coast. Set between the sea and vine-covered mountains, Getaria has a privileged position that makes it a destination not to be missed if visiting nearby San Sebastián. Enjoy the local Basque wine, txakoli, in situ. Bonus points if you do so over some grilled fish, caught and brought daily to Getaria’s active port.

A land of contrasts, Baja California Sur has both lonesome desert landscapes dotted with date palms and deserted missions and the raucously popular beach resort towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, collectively known as “Los Cabos.” The variety of things to do is just as striking: whale watching, snorkeling with whale sharks, sailing, and discovering deserted coves and beaches are just a few of the adventures that await you in Baja California Sur.

San Sebastián may be a small town at heart, but it is rich with must-do experiences for all types of traveler. From pintxos to art museums to the Bay of La Concha, San Sebastián has plenty to keep visitors busy. Experience the local culture through stellar surf, unique drinks, killer views, and Michelin star cuisine in this Basque town.

When the sun goes down, Cancun and the Riviera Maya offers a totally different kind of vibe, becoming a sexy, sleek destination where the beat goes on literally till dawn. Nightlife is big in the area, with trendy clubs such as Coco Bongo - which has clubs in both locations - offering non stop action until the wee hours of the morning

Stop to think about it for a minute, and the fact that El Salvador has a robust museum and gallery scene is pretty amazing. For one thing, the country is still recovering—psychologically and financially—from a civil war that lasted more than a decade; art could easily be an afterthought in such a context. But it’s not, and it’s through the country’s contemporary art that you can learn and understand much more about El Salvador’s complex history.

Spoken of in almost reverential terms by people that have traveled there, Sa Pa is often seen as a holy grail of destinations in Vietnam. Part of that is because of the environment—a cool mountain town that has lured visitors with its salubrious air and alpine scenery since the early 20th century, when the French constructed facilities for sick officers to recover—as well as its remoteness, located close to the Chinese border in the country’s extreme north. Most visitors come to Sa Pa for the hiking in the nearby valley peppered with minority-ethnic-group villages, or to climb Mount Fansipan, the country’s tallest peak, which is located just southwest of the town. Conquering the summit once required a two-to-three-day hike, but now can more easily be reached with the help of a cable car (opened in 2016) that gets you most of the way.