Nestled within the mountains of the northern Thai countryside, Chiang Mai is a vibrant and modern city that holds close to its spiritual and natural roots. With its spectacular landscapes, delightful food, and hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples, Chiang Mai has nothing to envy of its sibling Bangkok.

Crete, the largest of Greek islands, is a place where myth meets history, where the age-old Cretan culture teems in modern villas, where the sea meets the mountains, and unspoiled nature coexists with modern tourist infrastructure. Crete has a thousand faces: one for each and every sort of traveller: the nature-lover, the explorer, the cosmopolitan, the lover of history, and the classic vulture.

Once you’ve experienced Nuremberg’s enchanting historical ambience and seen the mighty Kaiserburg, you’ll never forget them. The beautiful Old Town, the epitome of medieval charm, is nestled at the foot of the castle. It’s home to historical buildings, spectacular churches, one of Germany’s largest pedestrian areas, and the traditional Hauptmarkt.

Dutch heritage is present in the town’s dairy farms, blueberry and strawberry fields, parks, museums, and its architecture. What makes Lynden such an attractive destination is also the alluring proximity to other points of interest, including Canada five miles north, county seat Bellingham 15 miles away, and half-an-hour’s drive from the Pacific Ocean. Skiers may be happy to know that the popular Mount Baker is only an hour away as well.

Shanghai is the shiniest gem in modern China’s jewel box. It’s a hip, contemporary city that charges into the future with all the energy of its famous Maglev train. At the same time, if you veer away from the sleek highways and glitzy shopping streets, you can still stumble upon a more traditional Shanghai, with all its character and flavour. In the tiny back streets, wet-market vendors peddle their wares — buckets of bright green vegetables, fish flapping in shallow plastic bowls, and heaps of crayfish crawling over each other.