The gateway to the Loire Valley, Tours offers plenty to admire in its own right. Gothic architecture, café-lined squares, and manicured gardens conjure up a Parisian atmosphere without the crowds in this university town tucked between the banks of the Loire and Cher rivers.

While many visitors come for the beaches, arts celebrations and fiestas, San Sebastian-Donostia is serious about its food and drink. The Old Quarter’s narrow, winding streets are full of bars and restaurants, and in the modern city, sidewalk cafes are all around. The city specialises in seafood. Just make sure you know not to expect dinner at 6 or 7 p.m.—that’s much too early in Spain. Instead, tide yourself over with tapas, and enjoy eating and drinking late into the night.

Toulon combines the bustle of a major French port with the breezy ambiance of a Mediterranean resort town. Against the backdrop of looming Mont Faron, beaches and café-lined promenades line a harbour filled with historic naval ships, luxury yachts, and colorful fishing boats.

Boasting 23 lakes, innumerable parks and varied wildlife, Chisinau has one of the highest proportions of natural spaces of any city in Europe. Moldova's green capital is situated on the Bic River, surrounded by fertile land rife with vineyards, making it a popular destination for wine tours. The city is also renowned for its cognac and especially its award-winning beer, so arrive thirsty!

Lafayette is part college town, part natural landscape and part lively urban center. Across the Wabash River in West Lafayette, Purdue University draws a diverse young student population to the city. A walking tour of downtown Lafayette reveals a historic core of Victorian architecture, unique shops and public art. Nature abounds in the city and area parks, including Columbian Park, the Celery Bog wetlands, the Jerry E. Clegg Botanical Garden along Wildcat Creek and Wolf Park in Battle Ground.