Brooklyn blends history with constant reinvention. Williamsburg draws crowds with its mix of independent shops, vintage finds, and late-night spots, while the borough’s landmarks never lose their pull. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge for skyline views, head to Coney Island for a classic boardwalk experience and a Nathan’s Famous hot dog, and spend time at the Brooklyn Museum, home to one of the country’s most impressive art collections. Next door, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers a calm break from city life. Down by the waterfront, DUMBO’s cobblestone streets and bridge views make it a favorite for photos and coffee breaks, while nearby Prospect Park offers a quieter, more local version of Central Park. And for a different type of culture, check out the 150-year-old Brooklyn Academy of Music and its calendar full of avant-garde plays, dances, music, literary events, and lectures.

If you want a break from the city’s streets, the Boboli Gardens offer plenty of green space along with a good dose of history. Spread out behind the Pitti Palace, the gardens are filled with sculptures from the 16th to 18th centuries—and a few pieces dating back to Roman times. While you’re there, don’t miss the Porta Romana nearby, an old city gate with its own story.

Go on a safari tour at Eriksberg's Wildlife Park and see wild animals in their natural habitat. Red deer, fallow deer, Père David’s deer, European bison, wild boar and moufflon roam freely in this unique nature reserve in the archipelago. The tour goes through a fascinating rocky landscape of oak woodlands, dense hornbeam woodlands and knotty conifers. There is a rich bird life as well, and one of the world’s largest stocks of the protected red water lily. The park consists of more than 925 hectares, of which 409 hectares of water. The fenced portion is about 900 hectares, which means that Eriksberg is one of northern Europe's largest wildlife reserves.

The Sainte-Croix Museum exhibits a wide collection of paintings and sculptures from the ancient world, as well as modern works of art. Situated on the site of the old abbey of Sainte-Croix, it features works of well-known French artists like Louis Gauffier and Jean-Paul Laurens, as well as contemporary pieces from Raymond Hains, Jacques Villeglé and others.