region

Although the walk from one end of Staniel Cay to the other wouldn’t take much more than 40 minutes, the favorite way to travel for visitors and locals is via golf cart. With so few roads, it will be nearly impossible to get lost as you set out in search of the island’s four gorgeous beaches. You won’t need transportation at all if you choose to spend the day swimming in the crystalline waters that lap at the powdery sands of Town Beach. Enjoy a meal overlooking the sea at one of the island’s only restaurants, conveniently located next to the beach.

Sailing into San Salvador is an experience to remember, as the island is actually the exposed peak of a submerged mountain that rises 15,000 feet from the ocean floor. You can easily lose a happy afternoon here on a secluded beach, but there is so much more to this idyllic island than meets the eye. Several monuments, ruins and shipwrecks commemorate San Salvador’s profound history dating back to the 1400s, which has sculpted its rich culture.

The standard mode of transportation for visitors and locals alike, a golf cart is the best way to get around Harbour Island, which is just over three miles from end to end. Make your way to one of the island’s renowned restaurants for exquisite cuisine, exceptional wines and fantastic views of the azure seas. The former Bahamian capital has colonial architecture painted in lovely pastels and framed by towering palm trees begging to be photographed.

The capital of Long Island, Clarence Town is home to just under 100 people, so on any given day, visitors may outnumber the locals. One main road traverses the island, which is over 70 miles long, and two different worlds unfold on either side. The eastern edge is the wild side, where Atlantic winds rustle the palm trees that frame secluded coastline, coves and caves. Explore Hamilton Cave, where Lucayan Indians lived centuries ago, and peer into Dean’s Blue Hole, one of the world’s deepest blue holes at over 660 feet.

With some of the most celebrated beaches in the Caribbean, Anguilla has the added bonus of being off the beaten path, with plenty of room to relax on the soft sands of Sandy Ground. The protected cove offers tranquil, crystalline waters and a long stretch of beach, where you can spend the day swimming, lounging in the sun and sipping the island’s famous rum punch. It won’t take much more than 20 minutes to get to the tiny island’s other main attractions, from the luxury resorts and golf courses to the Wallblake House, Anguilla’s only remaining plantation home.

When you're searching for an island's most idyllic beach, it's a good idea to follow the locals - and in St. Kitts they'll inevitably lead you to South Friar's Beach. Head to the east end of the beach to enjoy world class snorkeling, or retire to one of the wonderfully ramshackle beach bars for an ice cold beer in the shade. Go a little further up the coast to Royal St. Kitts Golf Club for a glorious game or two, or to Royal Beach Casino to try your luck at the tables. Back at South Friar's Beach, soak up the scenery as you dine at one of the Caribbean's most elegant restaurants.

One of Croatia’s most ancient cities, Zadar charms travelers with its unique cultural heritage, spectacular sunsets and vibrant nightlife scene. Its walled Old Town occupies a tiny peninsula ringed by a beautiful waterfront promenade. Inside the Venetian-era fortifications you’ll find a medieval labyrinth of narrow streets centered around a fascinating architectural legacy: a Roman Forum, a Byzantine-style church and a 12th century Romanesque cathedral.

Impressive Neoclassical buildings, boulevards and piazzas are everywhere you look in this elegant port city. The best way to start your day in Trieste is with a coffee. The city is said to have the finest coffee in the whole of Italy and sampling a cup or two in its beautiful Belle Époque cafes is an absolute delight. After your coffee take a walk along the Canal Grande, or head to the superbly decadent Miramare Castle – a vanity project of the Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg.

The dreamy ‘White City’ of Tangier sits where the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet. Lose yourself in the atmospheric alleyways of its labyrinthine medina; watch the world go by as you sip sweet mint tea at a café in the Grand Socco; stretch yourself out on the fine white sand of the city beach; or explore the Caves of Hercules, with their unique sea window that’s shaped like a map of Africa.

With its wild landscapes and a Scottish heritage that can be felt at every turn, Cape Breton Island is one of the most unique destinations in Canada. Take a stroll along Sydney’s waterfront and stop for a photo beside the world’s biggest fiddle – a massive nod to the region’s Celtic musical roots at over 60-feet-tall – or head to the Witney Pier Historical Society Museum to learn about the people who immigrated here from all over the world. Sydney is also an ideal base for exploring the Cabot Trail, which is a great place for golfing, kayaking and whale-watching.