With a globally recognizable skyline and 8.4 million people who call it home, New York City is bursting with diversity and excitement – from the iconic attractions you've seen on TV and in the movies to hidden gems waiting to be uncovered. Each of the five boroughs – The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island – has a distinctive flavor, while individual neighborhoods maintain identities all their own.

Cape Verde's unique geographic location, tumultuous history of slavery and invasion, and fascinating mix of transatlantic cultures have given rise to a place unlike any other on the globe. A place as joyful as it is full of longing, a fact perhaps best reflected in Cape Verdean music and the hauntingly beautiful 'morna'. The sometimes harsh, drought-prone conditions of this mid-Atlantic scattering of islands have seen the flourishing of a fascinating Creole culture and the most stable democracy in Africa.

Nestled within the mountains of the northern Thai countryside, Chiang Mai is a vibrant and modern city that holds close to its spiritual and natural roots. With its spectacular landscapes, delightful food, and hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples, Chiang Mai has nothing to envy of its sibling Bangkok.

For more than one billion of the world's population, Mecca is the holiest of sites, being the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad and the city of the revelation. Due to its religious importance, millions of pilgrims come here year after year from every corner of the planet, making it one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in the Muslim world, a true melting pot of peoples and cultures.

As if the honor of being deemed "America's Safest Big City" since 2005 isn't enough, Irvine — the center of Orange County, California — offers visitors shopping, diverse dining, outdoor recreation and family-friendly activities. Just minutes from the area's popular beaches and world-famous attractions, Irvine is the ideal location for a true Southern California experience!