The Jersey shore looks a little bit different in the Channel Islands. No Snookis here—instead, the partying of choice is the annual Battle of Flowers, a sweet-smelling carnival that culminates in the Moonlight Parade. Kayakers, surfers, divers and sailors will find plenty to love about Jersey’s active watersports scene, and adrenaline junkies will (cliff) jump for a coasteering tour of the caves, cliffs and crags. A day of shopping and café-hopping in St. Helier is an excellent dose of cultural retail therapy.

With seemingly endless sunny beaches, charming towns, glamorous yachts and celebrities galore, the French Riviera keeps the Belle Époque alive. Most towns are best explored on foot, while a cheap and reliable rail network connects the cities and towns. Fabled destinations such as St-Tropez, Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat lure visitors to follow in the wake of Picasso, Matisse and Bizet. Over a hundred museums and more than 150 galleries keep the artistic ambiance alive.

The unofficial capital of the Cappadocia region, Nevsehir makes a great central base for exploring the surrounding area and its many underground cities and countless fairy chimneys. Founded as Nyssa by the Hittites more than 3,000 years ago, Nevsehir has historical attractions from many eras, including the ruins of the Ottoman citadel overlooking the city and the 18th-century Kursunlu mosque in the Damat Ibrahim Pasha complex. Nevsehir Museum, one of Turkey's finest, is also very popular.