The island state of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea is one of the world’s most densely populated countries. It is also supremely popular with tourists — on some of the island’s sandy beaches, deck chair rows stack up like cinema seat lines. But for the enterprising few who wish to swim in peace, there is hope for solitude. The key is to let go of the idea of sitting on a sandy beach. The best swimming in Malta? Off the rocks. More specifically, a set of rocks called Wied-iz-Zurrieq.

Want to see some really great art? Forget New York City and head … upstate. Ithaca simply oozes artiness, and Hudson is packed with galleries and antique shops. Or take in the rich offerings at Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery. No wonder the National Center for Arts Research recently named four upstate cities to its annual arts vibrancy index.

You’ll find plenty of things to distract you on majestic Mackinac Island (which is actually pronounced “MACK-in-awe”), located between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. But you likely will not encounter a car horn. That’s because all motorized vehicles have been banned here for more than a century. All visitors to the island must therefore walk, cycle or take a horse-drawn taxi.

Some places are frozen in time by ordinance, and some by volcanic ash. Joya de Cerén was frozen in time by a volcanic eruption around A.D. 630, and as a result this Mayan village in El Salvador is an archeological time capsule. So why isn’t it as famous as Pompeii? Maybe because it wasn’t discovered until the 1970s, when bulldozers building grain silos unearthed the houses. Nowadays, a tour guide will walk you past ancient kitchens, bedrooms and a steam room known as a temescal.

Little Five Points is where biker gangs get burgers, street performers bum their smokes and tattooed 20-somethings get the jobs their suburban parents told them they would never get because of those tattoos. Nestled between Inman and Candler parks in East Atlanta, this neighborhood is an ode to diversity of characters and businesses — everything from vintage shops and novelty wig thrift stores to independent booksellers and an indie radio station. Writers have called Little Five Points the bohemian capital of the Southeast and “Atlanta’s favorite neighborhood.”

You want jazz? Head to India. Goa — known for its golden beaches and yoga retreats — is also historically the center of India’s jazz scene, thanks to a thriving traditional music culture, Portuguese influence and colonial schools that forced everyone to learn a musical instrument. Today, you can soak it in at an annual jazz festival.

When you think of Cape Town, your first thought might be of Table Mountain, a flat-topped 3,600-foot majestic landmark. But South Africa’s second-most populous city is home to so much more, from fantastic restaurants and quirky bars to amazing art and beaches, along with wildlife and conservation venues. For those who like to venture off the beaten path, check out the multicultural and Vegas-esque suburb of Parow, about 10 miles from the city center, where there’s a quirky market, curious bars and great street eats.

You may think you’ve been to America’s prettiest cities, but unless you’ve traveled to this East Coast neighborhood, your list is incomplete. With its impeccably charming mini-courtyards, old-fashioned narrow streets and glorious brickwork homes with identical white-trim window frames and jet-black wooden shutters, Boston’s Beacon Hill is the definition of pretty. All around is lush red brick, catching the light, glowing in different ways at different times of day. It’s even been named one of the best neighborhoods in the country for trick-or-treating.

on The Carlos Watson Show!

Though Colombia's hills are the former terrain of militant rebels, a 2016 peace treaty has opened them up for a thriving mountain biking culture, as adventurers rediscover the rustic Andean trails. Across Colombia, mountain bikers are reclaiming vast tracts once considered violent no-go zones.

Visitors to Kuala Lumpur will likely know about the temple at the Batu Caves, which is a pilgrimage site for Hindus all over the world. Many visitors, though, remain unaware of 170 nearby climbing routes up eight gorgeous rock faces. So chalk up your hands and start the upward journey for unbeatable views.

This breathtaking hike takes you to one of the country’s most impressive, yet lesser-known, natural attractions. Featuring almost 30 square miles of hills and enchanted forests, the Bohemian Switzerland National Park has served as a setting for multiple “Narnia” movies. Few are the visitors who dare to venture deep into the dense network of hiking trails that cut across this hauntingly beautiful landscape.

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