Nicknamed 'Village by the Sea,' Carlsbad enjoys seven miles of tidy, serene beaches along the Pacific coastline. This makes it perfect for swimming, sunbathing and surfing, all paired with a mild climate. Furthermore, Carlsbad has three lagoons, a lake, an aquarium, museums and shopping districts. As if that was not enough, the town's proximity to San Diego and Los Angeles provides a multitude of additional options within a short drive.

Known as the City of Spring, Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan, is blessed with a mild climate especially favourable to plant cultivation, which becomes instantly evident in the city's vibrant flower markets. The pace of life here is slow: hardly anyone is seen in a hurry. The best thing to do is smell the roses, and wind down gently while exploring this very pleasing city and the breathtaking nature getaways in the environs.

Traverse City’s claim to fame is its position as the largest producer of tart cherries in the United States. The Michigan city hosts annual events to celebrate the cherry harvests, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. The land is also ripe for Traverse City’s numerous vineyards, which place it among the Midwest’s top centers of wine production. After touring the orchards and attending the wine tasting events, head to Traverse City’s freshwater beaches, the National Lakeshore, downhill skiing areas, and verdant forests.

As the capital of a rich and historic region, Ancona is, above all, a city of the sea. The city is blessed with a magnificent coastline to the south, with clean and accessible water and unspoilt white beaches. Close by are the beautiful towns of Loreto, Recanati, Jesi and Urbino as well as the rolling hills of the hinterland and the world-famous Grotte di Frasassi.