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Toronto, Canada's largest city, stretches along the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, offering a stunning skyline view from across the water. The city, with a population approaching three million, is characterised by a mix of modern skyscrapers, residential towers and green spaces near the lake's edge. Dominating the skyline is the CN Tower, a concrete communications and observation tower with a distinctive tapered shape designed for stability and wind resistance. Rising 553 metres tall, it remains one of the tallest freestanding structures in the world and a true icon of this lakeside cityscape.

The capital of Northern Ireland is a tourist destination of titanic proportions, but not in a way you would normally imagine. Despite having an area of only 44 square miles, what makes the city a big deal is the Titanic Museum. This attraction features the ill-fated ocean liner that sunk as spectacularly as it was huge during the early 20th century. The city has also become a giant in the entertainment industry, thanks to its use as a "Game of Thrones" filming location. Top-class restaurants and a vibrant nightlife scene also make Belfast a good destination for the casual traveler.

Situated amid imposing Himalayan peaks, Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest bodies of water in the world, with its surface about 17,000 feet above sea level. Part of the multiethnic Indian state of Sikkim—a rugged patch between Nepal and Bhutan that remained an independent kingdom until 1975—the lake is held sacred by both Buddhists and Sikhs. That this place is good for the spirit is hard to deny: Whether you're here under a clear summer sky and the shade of Khangchengyao's peak, or wandering amid mists that hug Gurudongmar's frozen shores, there's hardly a more solemn place on planet Earth.

When a state forest was proposed for the roughly 10,000 acres surrounding this scene, it's said a photo of these falls was used to convince folks the area was worth protecting from development. Triple Falls is now part of North Carolina's DuPont State Recreational Forest , and flows right through the heart of it. There are other big waterfalls on the Little River's course, but this trio of roaring cascades is one of the forest's most renowned attractions. It helps that Triple Falls’ beauty has graced a number of feature films, including 1992's 'The Last of the Mohicans .'

East of the bridge called Togetsukyō (aka Moon Crossing Bridge) on the outskirts of Kyoto, the Hozu River becomes the Katsura River. It then runs through one of Japan’s officially designated Places of Scenic Beauty—the Arashiyama district. The Katsura flows past rolling hillsides, bright with pink cherry blossoms or tinted rust with autumn leaves, depending on the season. Several historic shrines and temples rise near the river banks, and a few quaint villages are tucked in between the river and mountain slopes. There’s also a monkey sanctuary not far from here, and a bamboo forest both serene and spectacular.