Istanbul is a city built on layers of empire. Spanning two continents, it was once the capital of three major empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Visitors walking through the Sultanahmet district can witness this timeline firsthand, from the Roman-era Hippodrome to the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia, and the towering minarets of the Blue Mosque. At nearby Topkapi Palace, rooms still display the jeweled swords, ceremonial robes, and handwritten Qurans once used by Ottoman sultans.

Located between Lombok and Flores in the Lesser Sunda chain in the Indian Ocean.

County Kerry, located in Ireland’s southwest corner, is a landscape of dramatic contrasts, where rugged mountains meet serene lakes and Atlantic waves crash against wild peninsulas. Known as “The Kingdom,” Kerry holds deep cultural and historical significance, with ancient ring forts, medieval monasteries, and Gaelic traditions that endure in everyday life.

Heron Island is a true coral cay right on the Great Barrier Reef. Here you can swim straight off the beach to an endless garden of coral where the waters are literally teeming with beautifully coloured fish and marine life.

Willow is a small community in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Valley, located along the George Parks Highway between Anchorage and Denali National Park. Forests, lakes, rivers, and views toward the Talkeetna Mountains shape the area’s setting. Willow is particularly associated with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, whose ceremonial and competitive events bring attention to the community each winter. Its rural surroundings also make it a base for fishing, boating, hiking, camping, and winter recreati