Once the first free settlement in the Americas, founded by those who escaped slavery during the colonial period, the town of San Basilio de Palenque still stands today, and with it the unique culture of its inhabitants. A portion of the population still speaks palenquero, a creole tongue that emerged from a mix of several European and African languages, now used almost exclusively in San Basilio de Palenque. Music and dance occupy a place of paramount importance in residents' lives, with the Drums and Cultural Expressions Festival held annually in October. The palenque cuisine deserves a separate mention — a culinary tradition upheld by inhabitants of a small Colombian village has garnered international acclaim, with a cookbook written in the town receiving the highest prize at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in 2014. If your schedule happens to be too tight for a dedicated day trip (which earns our highest recommendation), try some of the tropical fruit sold by palenqueras in downtown Cartagena. The village was named Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.

Djurs Summerland is Scandinavia's biggest amusement park, with world-class roller coasters, eight different country pavilions, a huge water world, and more than 60 different rides. This park holds great experiences for the entire family, so try out Skatteøen ,the water coaster with speeds up to 70 km/h and 28 metres of high, or the Pirate, the world's sixth best roller coaster dropping 32 metres with 90 km/h.

Whether the sun is shining or the clouds are looming, the beach of Scheveningen is packed full of exciting things to do and see on a day out. Just a fifteen-minute bike ride from The Hague's city centre, this eventful stretch of sand dunes and sea is definitely worth a visit for young and old to enjoy the culinary delights that can be found there along with the numerous events such as beach parties, fireworks nights and kite festivals to name but a few. There is a vibrant surf culture in Scheveningen which is active all year round, great for beginners to learn as there are so many surf schools along the beach. During the day, be sure to visit any of the numerous attractions, museums or markets then take an evening stroll down one of the promenades and pick out the perfect spot to eat and drink from over 130 restaurants available.

A fun way to spend a spare hour is walking over the beach side Comedy Carpet - a platform inscribed with various jokes and one-liners, some well-known classics, while others still perhaps able to draw a chuckle. The carpet is best viewed at a distance, from atop the Blackpool Tower.