The Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island is a place where coastline and culture come alive in ways that stay with visitors long after they’ve left. Stretching for about 110 kilometers between the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Plenty, this region has deep roots that go back to the arrival of Māori long before Europeans stepped ashore.

The Isle of Man, nestled in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland, offers visitors a blend of rich history and distinctive culture. Known for its ancient Celtic and Viking roots, the island’s heritage can be explored through sites like Peel Castle, built on a rocky island in the harbor of Peel, and the ancient Manx museums scattered throughout.

Ganvie, often called the "Venice of Africa," is a lake village located in the heart of Lake Nokoué in southern Benin. What makes Ganvie extraordinary is that the entire village sits on stilts above the water, with wooden homes, floating markets, and schools accessible only by boat. Visitors can glide through narrow canals in pirogues, experiencing firsthand a way of life shaped entirely by water.

Lake Tana, located in the northwest of Ethiopia, is the country’s largest freshwater lake and the source of the Blue Nile. Its calm waters are dotted with more than 30 islands, many of which are home to ancient monasteries adorned with religious paintings and manuscripts.

Lead’s Main Street reflects its long history with places that invite people to explore local life beyond mining. The Black Hills Mining Museum offers displays of mining tools, machinery and a simulated underground mine experience that brings to life how miners worked the Black Hills over generations. Along the same street, galleries, cafés and historic buildings make for pleasant stops between deeper dives into the past.