Lying below the steeple-rich skyline of Charleston is an architecture buff's dream. Founded in 1670, the port is now host to eight distinct building styles. It also claims the country’s first museum and the harbor where the first shots of the American Civil War were fired from Fort Sumter, accessible via a pleasant ferry ride. Antebellum history is revealed at Boone Hall Plantation, famous for its stunning avenue overarched with moss-draped live oak trees more than two centuries old.

With an average temperature of 75 degrees and 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Fort Lauderdale’s gorgeous beaches are just the beginning of the city’s attractions. Venturing into the water allows for scuba diving, deep-sea fishing or an airboat tour of the Everglades with a live gator show. Often called the “Venice of America” for its many canals and waterways, Fort Lauderdale is also a lovely place for a stroll. A trek along the Riverwalk reveals a tropical landscape lined with restaurants, art and entertainment and continues down Las Olas Boulevard for a posh shopping spree.

Closer to Cuba than to Miami, the southernmost city in the continental United States can feel like a country all its own. Home to free spirits, scuba divers and six-toed cats, Key West is defined by its quirky charm. People go barefoot, chickens roam the streets and eclectic culture rules. Architecture lovers will appreciate classic Caribbean villas, unique Keys conch houses and Victorian and Queen Anne gingerbread homes. Shopping opportunities range from many music and book shops to trendy designer boutiques.

Situated on one of the world's largest natural harbors, New York is a global power city with a nearly endless “to-do” list. Journey to the Statue of Liberty, experience the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and take in the lights and sounds of Times Square. Revel in a Broadway show and gaze up at the iconic Flatiron, Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. Visit the countless museums starting with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, among the world's largest and finest museums, the Guggenheim, or MoMA.

Akureyri is Iceland’s second largest city and is known as the “Capital of the North,” but with a population of approximately 18,000, Akureyri feels more like a town than a city. Only 62 miles from the Arctic Circle, it surprisingly has one of warmest climates in the country. Enjoy a stroll through the charming streets, especially Hafnarstræti, a pedestrian-friendly street filled with quaint coffee shops and boutiques selling locally made wares. Also in town is a lovely botanical garden near the majestic Akureyri Church, the city’s best-known landmark.

Perched upon a rock in the harbor, the Little Mermaid welcomes all to this lively, fun-loving city of Danes, said to be some of the happiest people in the world. From the fabulous food and fresh water to free education, free healthcare and a 37-hour work week, this is a society firmly focused on the good life, and its capital is a joy to explore.

Gothenburg, located on Sweden’s west coast, is the country’s second largest city and an important trading center. Start your explorations with a stroll down the cobblestone streets of the Haga district. The main street, Haga Nygata, is for pedestrians only and is lined with cafés and artisan shops. A must-see is the Feskekorka fish market. Meaning “Fish Church,” Feskekorka was built in 1874 to resemble a church and is a mecca for seafood lovers. For car buffs, there’s the Volvo Museum, and for thrill-seekers, the Liseberg amusement park.