Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, is a place where tropical forest and coastline meet in striking harmony. Once a pirate hideout and later the site of a penal colony, it has evolved into one of Brazil’s most remarkable island destinations. With no cars allowed and no large resorts, the island moves at a different pace, where footpaths and boats are the main ways to get around.

Redwood National and State Parks protect a remarkable coastal landscape in northern California, where ancient redwood forests grow alongside rivers, prairies, wetlands, and the Pacific Ocean. The protected area extends across a series of parks in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, preserving some of the tallest trees on Earth. Dense stands of coast redwoods create shaded forest environments beneath a canopy of towering trunks, while nearby coastal bluffs and beaches provide a striking contrast.

Parga is a coastal town in Epirus, northwestern Greece, built in an amphitheater around a sheltered bay on the Ionian Sea. Colorful houses rise along the hillside toward the Venetian castle, while the small islet of Panagia sits just offshore with a chapel and the remains of a French fort. The old town is characterized by narrow cobbled lanes, stone arches, and traditional houses, while the waterfront is lined with cafés, tavernas, and small boats.

Wick’s location at the mouth of the River Wick provides a dramatic coastal setting, with cliffs, sandy beaches, and the North Sea stretching into the horizon.

This is a city one could get lost in for days, exploring the old Ming Dynasty walls and wandering through its superb museum. If time permits, you should also take a walk through Linggu Park, home of the Linggu Pagoda and other items of Buddhist interest. Even just a casual walk through the streets-replete with food vendors and baskets of live geese-will help convey the unique flavor of this city.