Nestled in a the beautiful Schanfigg Valley, Arosa is the very picture of an Alps village, from its diverse array of ski runs to the charming wooden houses that are so quintessentially Swiss. If you want, you can round out your ski vacation with concerts, architectural tours, and a visit to the 500-year-old Bergkirchli mountain chapel.

Celebrate the wonders of the land and sea in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city and home to Liseberg amusement park, the country’s #1 tourist attraction. Visiting Gothenburg Archipelago is a must, as is sampling everything from modern gastronomy to ‘fika’ to the fresh-caught wonders at Feskekörka (Fish Church). Be sure to take in the Gothenburg Museum of Art, stunning contemporary art at Röda Sten Art Centre, and – if you visit in August – the incredible Way Out West music festival.

Matheran is all about the views. Easily accessible via scenic rail from Mumbai, this refuge in the Sahyadri Hills is blissfully free of motor vehicles and affords nearly three dozen lookouts over the Western Ghats and the region's village-dotted plains. Porcupine Point is anything but prickly—rather, it’s an ideal spot for gorgeous sunsets, especially at the aptly named Panorama Point. Avid hikers hit the densely forested and wildlife-rich route to the ruins of Prabalgad Fort.

New Hampshire's White Mountains are jam-packed with attractions, and scenic roads make driving between them a delight. Trundle along Conway's Scenic Railroad and Mount Washington Cog Railway, head upwards on the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tram and Loon Mountain Skyride, plunge down in Polar Caves Park and Flume Gorge, and reach top speeds at Attitash ski resort and summer playground. Offering a wealth of outdoors wonders both in winter and summer, the White Mountains are a thrill for all seasons.