Whether your curiosity is piqued by the International Olympic Committee’s selection for the 2016 Games, or you’re heeding the call of the famous twin beaches Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio offers more than you can imagine, and offers it at all hours. With breathtaking views from Corcovado Mountain and breathtaking deals in the city’s endless malls and markets, Rio de Janeiro is a holiday paradise, whatever it is you travel for.

Giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, endangered jaguars and clouds of butterflies are among the attractions at this World Heritage-designated park that marks the border between Brazil and Argentina. By foot or by raft, explorers can view one of the world's most stunning waterfalls, Iguazu Falls. Among the park's 270 waterfalls, spectacular Devil's Throat combines 14 falls and generates a "perpetual rainbow" in good weather.

Vibrant Barranquilla is the epicenter of Carnival,a four-day festival of food, music, dance and beautiful party people. For the other 361 days of the year, the fourth-largest city in Colombia offers plenty of opportunities to pursue a balance of epic nightlife and historic sightseeing. The churches alone are their own festivals of architecture, and the impressive Museum of the Caribbean is a great source of political, cultural and social context.

Cape Coral's temperate climate, abundant forests, and access to the Gulf of Mexico make it an ideal destination for boating, fishing, hiking, and many other outdoor activities. Cape Coral is the perfect destination for any outdoor enthusiast, and from hiking one of the many trails at the Charlotte Harbour Preserve State Park to fishing at the Cape Coral Yacht Club there are activities for just about everyone. Coral Oaks Golf Course is a great place to work on your game, and if history is your thing or you just love beautiful flowers, don't forget to check out the Cape Coral Historical Society Museum to see some interesting relics and their prized rose garden.

Known for walkable urban villages like Crystal City, Rosslyn and Ballston, Arlington was part of the "10 miles square" surveyed in 1791 to be the United States capital. Just across the Potomac from Washington, Arlington is home to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), Air Force Memorial and Pentagon Memorial. With 11 Metro stops, Arlington is car-optional and offers visitors everything from eclectic theatre to Bohemian cafes.

The first time you go to New York, go ahead and be a sight-seer—everyone should visit the Statue of Liberty, the Met, Times Square, etc. But on a return trip, pick a neighbourhood and go deep. You’ll find hole-in-the-wall bars, great delis, quirky shops… exploring the non-touristy side of New York is an incredibly rewarding experience for a traveller.