A jetsetter haven, Saint-Tropez  is best known for its designer shopping, drink-and-dance-‘til-dawn nightlife, and ritzy beach clubs like Le Club 55 and Nikki Beach. After all, this is where French screen goddess Brigitte Bardot popularized the bikini in the 1950s, and to this day Bardot makes her home here. But another side of this once humble fishing village can be found in the hills far above the beachfront. Walk the narrow cobblestone streets and visit the 17th-century citadel for stunning views of the port.

Founded in 1600 when the first European fur-trading post was established in North America, Tadoussac lies at the confluence of the Saguenay and St. Lawrence rivers, where cold fresh water and warmer salt water mix to create rich marine life. An abundance of krill makes the area very attractive to whales, and boat excursions to view the massive mammals are one of the town’s biggest attractions. Still surrounded by relative wilderness, Tadoussac Bay is stunning. Sea kayaking in the Saguenay–St.

Nestled on the beautiful Sicilian coast, Taormina is most famous for the 3rd-century Teatro Antico di Taormina, the world's most dramatically situated Greek theater. Nearby cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. The city center is filled with 15th-century stone palaces and churches, and pedestrian-only Corso Umberto is the spot for people watching, shopping, fine dining or a gelato. Strung along the bay below Taormina is Giardini Naxos, a picturesque seaside resort on the site of the most ancient Greek colony in Sicily.

Les Saintes are a volcanic archipelago of two islands and seven uninhabited islets surrounded by thriving coral reefs and clear seas. Small at just over two square miles, Terre-de-Haut is the most developed of the group, thanks to an anchorage-rich coastline of scenic bays, natural harbors, quiet beaches and charmingly picturesque villages. The ambience is decidedly low-key, and days are devoted to beachgoing, hiking, snorkeling and diving.

The Tobago Cays are an eco-paradise of pristine, aquamarine waters, sparkling white beaches and amazing wildlife in the southern Grenadines. A cluster of five uninhabited cays and the surrounding barrier reefs protect seabirds, native plants, iguanas, sea turtles, colorful hard coral and tropical fish. Tobago Cays Marine Park can only be reached by a boat, which can anchor in a sandy-bottomed lagoon. From here, snorkeling and diving explorations reveal a vibrant underwater world. In the Baradal Turtle Sanctuary, get close to green and hawksbill turtles in their natural habitat.

The distinctive cityscape of Valencia harmoniously blends centuries of architecture. The first stone of Valencia Cathedral was laid in 1262, and one of the chapels holds a chalice purported to be the true Holy Grail. Meanwhile, the Plaza del Mercado provides a delightful contrast between the art nouveau Mercado Central and the Gothic architecture of Lonja de la Seda, a former silk exchange and UNESCO World Heritage site. Moving into the 21st century, the City of Arts and Sciences was designed by renowned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2005.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Valletta is a diminutive city packed with history. Sailing into the harbor is an experience in itself, as the dome and spire of competing churches rise above the cluster of limestone façades and formidable ramparts. Built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, Valletta is architecturally Baroque in character, with Mannerist, neoclassical and modern elements as well. It’s easy to navigate the city on foot and take in sights such as the City Gate, National Museum of Archaeology, Grand Master’s Palace and St.