What sets Kaikōura apart are the extraordinary marine encounters that begin just off the shoreline. The Kaikōura Canyon, an underwater gorge that plunges to great depths close to land, creates currents rich with nutrients that attract a remarkable array of sea life year-round. Sperm whales are a common sight here and are frequently spotted on local boat tours. Dusky dolphins twist and leap in large pods, and colonies of New Zealand fur seals laze on rocky outcrops along the coast.

Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan hub nestled in the heart of the country. With its mix of German colonial architecture and modern African charm, Windhoek offers visitors a unique blend of history and contemporary culture. The city’s skyline is dominated by the striking Christuskirche, a Lutheran church built in 1907, which stands as a symbol of Namibia's German colonial past.

Lincoln is a town in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, situated along the Pemigewasset River near the western entrance to Franconia Notch. Its setting combines a compact commercial center with wooded hills, mountain valleys, and easy access to protected public lands. Lincoln is closely connected with the larger Franconia Notch landscape, while its location along Interstate 93 makes it an important stopping point for travelers crossing the White Mountains.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument lies in northeastern Arizona on Navajo Nation land, surrounding a network of deep sandstone canyons near Chinle. The monument is distinctive because it is both a protected landscape and a living community, with Diné families continuing to farm, raise livestock, and maintain homes within the canyon.

This 2,000-year-old city, where the Teutonic Order founded one of its first commanderies in the 13th century, lies on the convergence of the Moselle and Rhine Rivers. Hop on a cable car, one of the city's most popular attractions, for stunning city-wide views, or cruise down the Rhine to spot some of Koblenz's magnificent fortresses and castles, including the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress and Schloss Stolzenfels.