The Blackpool installment of the world-renowned wax figure museum holds replicas of iconic figures ranging from the British Royal Family to pop stars like Justin Bieber. Other "residents" include a whole array of actors, TV personalities, musicians and even E.T., the extra-terrestrial.

Open air museum set on 100 acres of parkland on the outskirts of Cardiff. The museum is a village of 40 buildings that tell the story of Wales throughout the ages, and each building was transported brick-by-brick from their original location. The village includes a 17th-century farmhouse, working men’s hall, a tannery, bakery and terrace of workers’ cottages with each house representing a different decade.

One of the best ways to enjoy the crystal clear waters of Lord Howe Island is from a stand-up paddleboard. Rent a board at Neds Beach or Lagoon Beach and look out for wrasses, turtles and myriads of coral as you glide through the calm waters.

Stop at Miradouro das Flores and take in how much of Porto Santo fits into a single view. On one side, Ilhéu da Cal sits offshore, its pale cliffs rising around 150 metres straight out of the sea, a reminder of the island’s mining past and now protected and off-limits to visitors. Turn the other way and the view opens right up, with Porto Santo’s peaks, the northeast coast, and the full sweep of the 9 km beach laid out in front of you — an easy stop that delivers more than you expect.