It is said that natives of Cologne who are living elsewhere always feel homesick, and visitors to this beautiful city will soon understand why. Germany’s oldest metropolis, which, of course, gave its name to the Eau de Cologne, offers a mix of magnificent and romantic churches, cutting-edge modern architecture, busy shopping streets, and world-famous museums. There is much to do and see in Cologne, and with all the frequent flights and transportation options, getting here has never been easier.

Long known for its old-world charm, from the historic Faneuil Hall to the Freedom Trail that celebrates Boston’s preeminent role in the American Revolution, Boston has come a long way towards staking its claim in the 21st century. With the completion of the “Big Dig” that buried Boston’s vast network of highways underground, Boston has hit the new century running. Attractions span beautiful public libraries, fascinating museums and plenty of sports. Boston is destined to grow ever more beautiful as more and more of the ungainly elevated highways are replaced with lush parks.

Bucolic beauty envelops the small, unincorporated town of Arnold, California. Resting at the center of the 400-mile Sierra Nevada mountain range, Arnold is a breath, sigh, and smile of fresh air. Testaments to this are the mild summer temperatures, a close proximity to stunning natural wonders, and the overall seclusion of Arnold’s favored attractions.

The counties of Kildare, Laois, Louth, Meath and Wicklow that surround Ireland’s capital city are packed with beautiful heritage sites, welcoming towns and activities. With glistening lakes, tranquil rivers, authentic rural life, scenic pastureland, rolling hills and forest parks, this area is a haven for outdoors enthusiasts with cycling, watersports, walking, angling, golfing, horseriding and cruising all in plentiful supply.

South African Durban, known as eThekwini in Zulu, has to be one of the continent's most appealing cities, especially after the 2010 World Cup breathed new life into the area by revamping the waterfront; the splendid Moses Mabhida Stadium remains one of Durban's primary attractions to date. Durban moves to the beat of gqom, its own home-grown music genre, which is slowly making its way onto global charts from South Africa's sunny, tropical melting pot of eclectic cultural influences.