Situated near the northern edge of the wonderful Brecon Beacons National Park, the Welsh town of Brecon is the perfect holiday location for lovers of the countryside. As well as its Georgian architecture, the town of Brecon has a fine cathedral with a shop, restaurant and heritage centre. You can follow Captain's Walk and see the remains of Brecon's medieval walls, or visit the South Wales Borderers Museum at Brecon Barracks. Take advantage of good weather to cruise the canal that links Brecon with Newport. Above all, explore Brecon Beacons National Park, with its rolling hills, woods, caves and waterfalls.

One visit to the Yorkshire Dales and it’s easy to understand why the unspoiled countryside is the setting of so many novels. Must-see sights among the land’s lush woodlands and expansive moors include Hardraw Force (the longest single-drop waterfall in the North), Gordale Scar, and well-known hill range, the Three Peaks. Less adventurous visitors can rest easy, walking through the manicured lawns of Parcevall Hall Gardens or appreciating Skipton Castle’s medieval architecture. Although some prefer to take in the land’s wild beauty by foot or horse, the most popular way is via one of the park’s famed cycling routes.

Called Sørlandet, Norway's South Coast is known for its rocky coastline, its whitewashed houses and its idyllic archipelago. This warmest area in the country draws many resdents for a summer holiday. Kristiansand, the biggest city here and fifth-largest in all of Norway, has many lovely beaches, a very good zoo (Norway's most visited attraction) and a number of historic buildings. These date from the period of the city's 17th-century founding and are located in Posebyen, the old town area.

So splendid was mediaeval Verona that its reputation alone inspired Shakespeare to set two plays here (Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona). Though its connection to the actual Capulets is tenuous at best, the so-called Juliet's House draws half a million tourists per year, many of them keen on reenacting the balcony scene. Don't miss the Roman amphitheatre and the Palazzo Barberi.

Mount Desert (pronounced “dessert”) Island is the largest isle in Maine and the second largest on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. Though it boasts a small residential community, Mount Desert claims more than two million visitors each year; all of whom are enamored with its quaint feel, stunning beaches, and access to saltwater and freshwater lakes. Popular water activities include kayaking, fishing, and canoeing, though many prefer to take in amazing sunrises and scenic vistas while exploring one of the island’s 25 trails.

The Maasai call the plains of Serengeti National Park "the place where the land moves on forever"—so prepare to be astonished by its vastness. And here, you can witness the famous Serengeti annual migration, the largest and longest overland migration on earth.