Mayotte, a French overseas department nestled in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and mainland Africa, offers travelers a window into a lesser-known island culture shaped by Swahili, Malagasy, and French influences. Unlike its neighbors in the Comoros archipelago, Mayotte remains part of France, giving it a unique blend of European infrastructure and Indian Ocean traditions.

Las Palmas (officially Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) is the capital of Gran Canaria island as well as co-capital (along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife) of the Canary Islands. It is a major cruise-ship port known for duty-free shopping and sandy beaches, including Playa de Las Canteras, considered by many to be one of the best urban beaches worldwide.

St. George’s, the capital of Grenada, is a picturesque harbor town nestled within the rim of an extinct volcano. Its horseshoe-shaped Carenage, lined with pastel-colored colonial buildings, offers a postcard-perfect introduction to the island.

Mesa Verde National Park, nestled in the southwestern corner of Colorado, offers an extraordinary journey into the ancient past of the Ancestral Puebloans. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is renowned for its remarkably well-preserved cliff dwellings, built into the sheer rock faces of the canyon walls.

In Cyprus, travelers are immersed in a culture that draws on Europe, the Middle East, and 9000 years of constant invasion. Crusader castles rub shoulders with ancient vineyards, frescoed monasteries overlook citrus orchards, and sandy, sun-soaked feet tread Roman mosaic floors.