Ely, Minnesota, sits on the edge of the Superior National Forest in the state’s Northwoods, where boreal forest, rocky terrain, and interconnected lakes define the landscape. The community is best known as a major gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which contains more than one million acres of protected forest and waterways along the Canadian border. Ely itself has a compact downtown with independent shops, galleries, restaurants, and outfitters serving wilderness travelers.

Sanremo is a coastal city in northwestern Italy. Its green spaces include the park of Villa Ormond, with a Japanese garden, palm trees and ancient olive groves.

Ghandruk is a mountain village in Nepal’s Annapurna region, located on terraced hillsides overlooking the Modi Khola Valley. The village is widely recognized for its stone houses, slate roofs, and panoramic views of peaks.

Montecatini Terme, in Tuscany’s Valdinievole region, is one of Italy’s most renowned spa towns, celebrated for its thermal waters and elegant Belle Époque charm.

Frutillar is a small city on the western shore of Lake Llanquihue in southern Chile, with views across the water toward the snow-covered Osorno, Puntiagudo, Tronador, and Calbuco volcanoes. Its waterfront is defined by a long promenade, gardens, and dark volcanic-stone beaches, while wooden houses and carefully maintained public spaces give the town a distinctive appearance.

Santiago, the cultural capital of Cuba, is a passionate, unique destination, second in size and importance only to Havana, the governmental capital of the island. Some of Cuba's most famous musicians were born here, as well as the Bacardi brand of spirits, and the UNESCO World Heritage describes the local citadel of San Pedro de la Roca as "the most complete, best-preserved example of Spanish-American military architecture."