A 200-year-old lighthouse serves as a beacon for the Long Island town of Montauk, where fishing, beachcombing, kayaking and surfing vie for your attention. Pack a camera and binoculars for seal watching walks in Montauk Point State Park during the winter. Second House, a 1700s cottage built for East Hampton shepherds, adds to the local history. Summer season brings live music to the town's pubs and cafes. Hither Hills State Park provides access to ocean swimming, a 40-acre freshwater pond and camp sites.

Dorothy clicked her heels to return to Kansas, and you'll want to do the same after you've visited this one-time cattle town turned modern, booming city, where the spirit of the Old West lives on. To get a feel of the early pioneer days, visit the recreated village at the Old Cowtown Museum. For a slightly more eccentric experience, visit the Museum of Ancient Treasures, which has everything from a baseball signed by Joe DiMaggio to a shrunken head. The Indian Center Museum features works by Plains Indian artists. Wichita is an aircraft manufacturing center, and the Kansas Aviation Museum honors pioneers in the field, as well as housing model planes. Exploration Place gives kids more insights into aviation and other scientific wonders. For nature and wildlife, check out Botanica's lovely gardens or head over to the Sedgwick County Zoo, home to over 350 species of animals. Wichita stays up when the sun goes down: there's nightlife, culture, karaoke and cuisine for all tastes.

The town of Lake Louise is nestled in the Canadian Rockies, just 45 minutes east of Banff. Breathtaking mountain scenery and fluffy snow lure skiers and snowboarders to the slopes of the world-class Lake Louise Ski Resort every winter, while in summer this picturesque hamlet overflows with nature lovers are eager to explore unforgettable hiking trails and rock climbing faces. A short drive from downtown is Lake Louise itself, which thrills visitors every summer with its vibrant turquoise waters.

Lingering over pain au chocolat in a sidewalk café, relaxing after a day of strolling along the Seine and marveling at icons like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe… the perfect Paris experience combines leisure and liveliness with enough time to savor both an exquisite meal and exhibits at the Louvre. Awaken your spirit at Notre Dame, bargain hunt at the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil or for goodies at the Marché Biologique Raspail, then cap it all off with a risqué show at the Moulin Rouge.

Getting its name from the medieval Duchy of Limburg (now split among Holland, Belgium and Germany and the birthplace of the infamously pungent Limburger cheese), Limburg is the Netherlands’ southernmost region. Many of the area’s best attractions are concentrated in the capital of Maastricht, but other sights include the 12th-century Valkenburg castle ruins, the 17th-century Eijsden castle, the 20th-century Glaspaleis (built next to a medieval church at Heerlen), and De Meinweg National Park.

Jutland's south offers a slew of seafaring towns. Don't miss charming Ribe, home to flotillas of nesting storks. Fjords, dunes and islands await on its fringes, while moors and marshes stretch across its interior. The south is an idyllic spot for cycling. Rolling hills, heath and heather feature in central Jutland. Endless white sand beaches line the coasts. To the north, the windy North Sea coast is home to beech forests, lovely beaches and beautiful light and is loved by surfers and artists.

The largest of Italy’s fresh-water lakes, Lake Garda is located in northeast Italy. Tourists traveling here will find plenty of excursions and activities to keep them entertained year-round—everything from visiting hilly wine regions to exploring 14th-century castles. The towns and communities surrounding Lake Garda offer easy day trips from Venice, easily accessible by car or train. Major sights include the towns of Sirmione (which attracts most Lake Garda visitors thanks to its historic Rocca Scaligiera castle) and Riva del Garda (for the Varone waterfalls located nearby), as well as the region’s hills, which offer numerous hiking trails for adventurous walkers.