Carolina Beach’s old-fashioned seaside fun is centered on the vintage boardwalk dotted with pizza, doughnut and ice cream stands. Nearby, summer amusements abound, including miniature golf, batting cages, rides and an arcade. Enjoy live music venues, tiki bars and fresh seafood served with views of the Atlantic Ocean. You can surf or paddleboard, hike the white sand trails of Carolina Beach State Park or just take in the sea, sun and sights.

Golf, sunbathing and fishing entice resort-minded holiday-makers to North Myrtle Beach, which hugs the South Carolina coast at the northern end of its famous Grand Strand strip. In the home of "the shag" the infectious 1930s dance that still swings through the local clubs, a family-friendly vibe prevails. Explore a nature trail filled with migratory birds, go for thrills at one of the local amusement parks or take in live theatre. The mild subtropical climate means that outdoor activities are an option year-round.

Myrtle Beach is a family-friendly beach destination—which means in addition to great beaches, there’s plenty to do when the kids are sick of making sand castles. Amusement parks, water sports and golf courses are nearby. And family-friendly dining and hotels abound.

From Shoreditch’s swaggering style to Camden’s punky vibe and chic Portobello Road, London is many worlds in one. The city’s energy means that no two days are the same. Explore royal or historic sites, tick off landmarks from your bucket list, eat and drink in exclusive Michelin-starred restaurants, enjoy a pint in a traditional pub, or get lost down winding cobbled streets and see what you stumble across – when it comes to London, the possibilities are endless.

Deauville is Normandy’s answer to the French Riviera, and the beach resort of choice for weekending Parisians. Golden sands and seafront promenades dot the coast, while further inland you’ll find spacious plazas, terrace cafés, designer boutiques, and striking half-timbered buildings.

Everyone who visits Paris for the first time probably has the same punchlist of major attractions to hit: The Louvre, Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, etc. Just make sure you leave some time to wander the city’s grand boulevards and eat in as many cafes, bistros and brasseries as possible. And don’t forget the shopping—whether your tastes run to Louis Vuitton or Les Puces (the flea market), you can find it here.

Perched at the Triple Frontier, where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet, Puerto Iguazu is linked to Brazil by the Tancredo Neves bridge. It is home to the Museum of Images of the Jungle, the Mborore Museum, a bird rehabilitation center and the famed Iguazu National Park. The National Park is home to 275 waterfalls, including the world-renowned Iguazu Falls, which plunges 270 feet. A subtropical climate means it's warm in winter and hot in summer, with temperatures soaring up to 104°F.

Like Rothenburg, Dinkelsbuehl is one of the smaller mediaeval fortress cities. With its walls and towers still intact, it has the look of a typical German town of the 15th to early 17th century. Sample the famous German cuisine served in larger cities, but without the crowds. Don't miss the annual summer celebration, marking the city's surrender to Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War. The event is emphatically reenacted by many of the town's residents. And really, who doesn't love amateur theatre?

Say aloha to tropical breezes, oceanfront luaus and iconic Diamond Head on Oahu, the most populated Hawaiian island. Follow in the footsteps of surfing forefather Duke Kahanamoku on Waikiki Beach, visit the royal quarters of Iolani Palace and tour Pearl Harbor. Sample hot malasadas (local doughnuts) and shaved ice while shopping for vintage floral-print shirts on Honolulu's Kapahulu Avenue. Get off the tourist trail with a hike to Makapuu Lighthouse on the South Shore. You can even learn to hula.