Bali's breathtakingly beautiful scenery makes it easy to just settle for the imaginary cliche of the island as a tropical paradise and nothing more. But behind the luxury resorts, picture-perfect rice fields, and idyllic beaches lies a rich culture, steeped in tradition and spirituality, and one of the friendliest and most welcoming places you're likely to find anywhere. Dare to go beyond the comforts of the resort areas to truly explore all the island has to offer and let yourself be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime.

Blaine, Washington is perfectly placed for the ultimate escape. Positioned 35 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia and 110 miles north of bustling Seattle, Blaine certainly carves out its own stake in bliss. In addition to a reputation for being an incredibly clean, safe town, Blaine glistens in natural beauty. Over a dozen parks are fit for bird watching, biking, and trailblazing, while a handful of manicured golf courses also add to an itinerary of outdoor recreation.

For centuries, Zagreb has been a focal point of culture and science, and later also developed into a major centre of commerce and industry. Nowadays, it is a predominantly outdoorsy town with a plethora of cultural and clubbing opportunities, which are some of the many reasons people of all ages flock to this dazzling capital.

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.

Drop anchor in Karlskrona, the city founded in 1680, when Charles XI decided to build the country's new naval base here. 340 years later, the naval base remains, and the well-preserved architecture and city plan impressed Unesco, which gave Karlskrona World Heritage status in 1998. Wherever you go, you can see magnificent churches and squares, parade streets and fortifications that attract visitors from all over the world. All this on several islands in an archipelago that Unesco has designated as one of seven biosphere reserves in Sweden.