With its collection of historic homes, museums and battlefields, Frederick, Maryland, is a must-see destination for any history enthusiast. The sites of two bloody Civil War battles are preserved at Monocacy National Park and South Mountain State Park. Within the city, visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and learn how soldiers wounded in those battles were treated, or visit the house of Barbara Fritchie and picture her hanging the Stars & Stripes in defiance of the Confederate Army.

Portimao is a sailor’s delight, thanks to its calm waters and beautiful conditions. Plenty of elite international competitions happen here, but you don’t have to be a professional to set sail. Cruising the coast on the double-masted Santa Bernarda pirate ship is a family favorite. On dry land, you can wander the lovely Alvor boardwalk, enjoy a succulent seafood meal or zip around the go-kart track at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.

The past runs deep in Cadiz, where cobbled medieval streets spill out into whitewashed Spanish plazas and Roman ruins. As one of Europe’s oldest cities, it has the feel of an urban island, marked almost entirely by beaches and ultramarine harbours dotted with fishing boats.