Minneapolis is a city on the rise. Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, it is rumored that iconic American writer Mark Twain was the first to assign the name ‘Twin Cities’ to Minneapolis and neighboring city St. Paul. It's a metropolis that can cater to all your wishes: spend an entire week shopping, finding all the popular brands and some local ones, or go on a pub crawl and discover high-quality bars the city has to offer.

European explorers took what today is Praslin Island's nature reserve to be the original Garden of Eden, and no wonder — the primeval forest of Vallee de Mai has changed little over millions of years, and giant Aldabra tortoises still roam the archipelago populated by an incredible diversity of endemic plant and animal species. Out of the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles, only 12 are inhabited by humans, making for splendidly pure natural landscapes, unspoilt beaches, and some of the world's most fantastic diving spots.

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.

In the Alpine foothills, just 50 km from Milan, Bergamo is the most striking city in Lombardy. Built on two levels, the Lower City is more modern and dynamic, whilst the famous ‘Upper City’ boasts a stunning historic centre full of monuments and works of art. In the area around the city the Iseo Lake is well worth a visit, as are the sanctuary at Caravaggio and Crespi d’Adda – the most important company town in Italy, listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO.