Washington’s mountains rise from the ground like the mighty, mythical gods of lore. Stretching upwards with little regard for the communities of people peppered around them, such grand indifference captures our imaginations and awe. We strive to scale and conquer them, to master their trails and hills, and their magnificence allows us to transcend who we are in some magical way. Grand Mound, Washington places you within reach of the state’s majestic mountains, and thus its main attractions.

Located just 10 miles from Palm Springs, Cathedral City is a desert oasis with stunning mountain and desert landscapes. It gets its name from the majestic Cathedral Canyon, and is home to some of the Coachella Valley's best golf courses. Golfers can enjoy a round at the Cimarron Golf Resort's Boulder and Pebble courses, or at the Cathedral Canyon Golf Club. With its natural beauty and top-rated golf courses, Cathedral City is a must-visit destination for any traveler.

"The city in its setting and entire surroundings may be said to have something ideal." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1797). Scarcely any other European city has had its praises so often sung as Heidelberg. The mysterious Heidelberg Castle, the picturesque Old Town, and as Goethe himself stated, the perfection of its setting – in the nineteenth century, all of this attracted the German romanticists, who immortalized Heidelberg in poetry, music, and art. Today the charm of Old Heidelberg is combined with a future-oriented and international focus.

Umeå, known as the City of Birches, isn't just about high-quality culture. It's home to some of Northern Sweden's finest dining establishments, where the delicacies of the Norrland cuisine are served with remarkable precision. Add to this a plethora of outdoor activities, and it becomes clear why, among others, tens of thousands of students find Umeå so appealing.

What oil-rich, arid Kuwait might lack in glitz and glamour it makes up for in family-friendly entertainment and cultural haunts. The coastal Kuwait City and Salmiya are laden with museums, attractions and modern amusement parks guaranteed to keep visitors occupied for days on end. Shopping opportunities, from modern mega-malls and traditional souks, abound, as do sandy beaches and swimming venues.