This 4000-acre(1618 hectares), former working ranch in Windward Oahu has been turned into a giant outdoor activities park. Facilities include horseback riding, jet skiing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, freshwater fishing, and a shooting range. You can tour the movie sets used in filming Jurassic Park and Godzilla, or unwind on Secret Island, a secluded, picturesque beach perfect for relaxation. Families will appreciate the petting zoo, which offers a fun experience for kids. Reservations are required to ensure a seamless visit.

Located in the Waikato region, Matamata is a town surrounded by lush greenery. However, it is not the picturesque landscape that attracts tourists but its pop-culture significance. Marked by a "Welcome to Hobbiton" sign on the entrance, the town appears as the Shire in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and one of the major attractions here is the Hobbit holes that were built for the movies.

Carved into the sandstone cliffs of the desert canyons and mountain sides of southwest Jordan, the prehistoric city of Petra was hidden away for hundreds of years from the reach of the western world. Painted in the vibrant hues of the undulating landscape, at first sight all you see are the cliffs themselves before the city begins to emerge from the vivid backdrop of the striated rock. This World Heritage Site was named one of the New Wonders of the World in 2007, a rare jewel of rock-cut architecture and evidence of the Nabataeans' ingenuity. Capital of the Nabataean Empire between 400 BCE and 106 CE, the temples and tombs of Petra are carved directly into the rock amid a dramatic landscape of rugged cliffs and barren ravines, a once thriving center of trade and commerce. The Roman conquest of the Nabataean Empire marks the beginning of Petra's decline, yet evidence of additions made by the Romans stand to this date amid the distinctive style of the Greek, Byzantine and Nabataean periods. A sprawling complex of ruins, what has been uncovered makes up a mere 15 percent of the vast city, the rest remains hidden away, buried by the elements and lost in time.

Synonymous with a world-class education, Oxford University is one of the oldest in the Western world. The town of Oxford is essentially the university's campus, sprinkled with warm-hued historic buildings. Students are associated with individual colleges on enrollment which function as both dorms as well as social and educational spaces. Each of Oxford's colleges has an individual character of its own, though the scholarly atmosphere is common to all. Tradition and modernity go hand in hand at this illustrious institution where timeless customs survive along with contemporary research and education. Colleges like the gothic All Souls College, the architecturally rich Christ Church and the spired Bodleian Library & Weston Library are open to visitors.

Christ Church is the most famous Oxford college, probably the grandest and certainly the most photographed. Founded as Cardinal College in 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey, the college became Christ Church in 1545. The college chapel, which is also the cathedral of the Oxford diocese, contains the reconstructed shrine of St. Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford, a rich variety of stained and painted glass including works by Abraham van Linge and Edward Burns-Jones and a rare panel depicting the martyrdom of St. Thomas A. Becket.

In the heart of Oxford, just off Broad Street, lies one of the oldest libraries in all of Europe, the Bodleian Library, which was established in 1602. As an Oxford library, the Bodleian Library boasts a splendid collection of over 11 million volumes of books, journals, magazines, audio recordings, manuscripts and more and the library is amongst the largest in all of the United Kingdom. Functioning primarily as a reference library, visitors or members cannot rent out most of the material and usually must be kept within the reading rooms. Nonetheless, a visit to this library is truly a treat for a visitor, as, besides the marvelous architecture and the collection, the library also plays host to exhibitions and other events.

Aït Benhaddou is a historic ksar, or fortified city, that lies along the old caravan route that ran between ancient Sudan and Marrakesh. Located in the Province of Ouarzazate in modern-day Morocco, the ksar is one of the finest in the Ounila Valley. Nestled on the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, Aït Benhaddou seems to have mushroomed from the hillside itself. Small and large dwellings cluster around narrow streets within the vast embrace of the city walls, fortified by towers and interspersed with plazas, mosques and granaries. This rare assemblage of earthen clay architecture dates back to the 17th Century, a traditional pre-Saharan style that was carried forward from a much earlier time. Most of the residents of Aït Benhaddou now live in the modern-day village across the river, while the ksar stands undisturbed like a mirage from a bygone era. The beautifully restored Ksar has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been a favored location for several movies like Prince of Persia, Babel, The Mummy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and, Sodom and Gomorrah. It has also been featured as Yunkai in the popular TV series Game of Thrones.

A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, Salzburg's UNESCO listed Old Town is very much the heart of the city even today. Presided over by the Salzburg Castle, with the Alps rising at its back, the scene that unfolds is one of classical beauty painted by the deft hand of a master artist. Elegant spires and gleaming domes make up the city skyline, replete with effusive displays of the lavish embellishments and intricate ornamentation typical of this style of architecture. Salzburg's legacy as the birthplace of Mozart is celebrated with enthusiasm at various sites across the city, such as the Geburtshaus where Mozart was born and the Salzburg Dom where lies the Romanesque font of his baptism. The city was also the setting of the world-renowned musical, the Sound of Music, and its many tours now invite you to walk in the footsteps of the Von Trapps. This rich, musical legacy is upheld by a cultural program of over 4,000 events each year, of which the Salzburger Festspiele is undoubtedly the high point. One of Europe's oldest restaurants at St. Peter's Abbey, Schloss Hellbrunn and the Museum of Modern Art present other facets of the city of Salzburg.

One of the largest lakes in Italy, Lake Como sits between alpine-dotted shores in a milieu of deep-set idyll. It is fed by the river Adda and 36 smaller rivers and makes up one of Lombardy's most beautiful spots. Shaped like an upside-down "Y", it features three distinct sections: Colico stretching to the north with its mountainous and varied shores, Lecco spreading to the east with its bare, rocky foreshore and the arm of Como featuring gentle, green banks. Historically, the lake has been a place of transit since ancient times, while it also forms a heavenly retreat for modern-day luxury travel. Crowding its shoreline is a bevy of historic landmarks, including Villa D'Este at Cernobbio, the ancient church on Comacina island, and Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo. Far from prying eyes, Lake Como is also the favored spot of several celebrity homes belonging to Gianni Versace, George Clooney, Madonna and Ronaldinho.

You must have seen it in Star Wars (although they tweaked it to make it look extraterrestrial). Dating back to the late 18th Century C.E., the Villa del Balbianello is one of the most beautiful places in the country, as it would be almost impossible to find a dreamy house like this one that is set in the background of the pristine blue waters. The perfect landscape with its fringe of little trees completes the picturesque view. Walk into the villa to be further spellbound by its charming interiors: the wooden paneling, the beautiful spiral staircase and the tasteful furniture and furnishings render it a look of opulence that is not devoid of warmth. There is also a museum that exhibits numerous pictures, artifacts and other details about the Villa.

Ko Phi Phi Le, a stunning gem nestled in the Arabian Sea, attracts travelers from all corners of the globe with its breathtaking beauty and vibrant nightlife. Marina Bay Cove is perfect for relaxation or capturing Instagram-worthy photos. For a quieter escape, explore the island’s lesser-known beaches. The surrounding waters are rich with marine life, including gentle leopard sharks, making snorkeling and diving popular activities. Beyond lounging on the beach, you can enjoy lively beach bars and coastal restaurants. The ideal time to visit is between November and April, when the weather is pleasant and rain is scarce, offering the perfect tropical getaway.

Skopelos is a stunning sanctuary renowned for its Pelion architecture, golden beaches, and crystal-clear waters, all set against a backdrop of breathtaking landscapes. The island's enchanting charm is accentuated by its lush cover, creating a tranquil and serene atmosphere. Skopelos is also celebrated for its delectable local cuisine—don’t miss the irresistible strifti, a twisted phyllo dough cheese pie that has earned acclaim throughout Greece. Rich in biodiversity, the island is home to over sixty bird species and a variety of other flora and fauna. Adding to its allure, Skopelos gained international fame as the picturesque setting for the beloved film Mamma Mia.