With live music to be heard all across town, 24/7, 365 days a year, Music City lives up to its name. From honky-tonk bands jamming at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge to songwriters in the round at the Bluebird Cafe and country music legends rocking the Grand Ole Opry, you never know who you might see. The creative spirit from Nashville's music landscape flows into the area's myriad art galleries, up-and-coming fashion scene, historic landmarks and chef-driven restaurants.

If you’re a history buff and a die-hard foodie, Chicago’s your kind of town. Take an architectural-history walking tour, then dine at Alinea (the most celebrated molecular-gastronomy restaurant in the U.S.). And don’t miss the Museum of Science and Industry, the biggest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.

Ideally situated just south of Las Vegas and just west of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, Henderson may lack Sin City's flamboyance, but it makes up for it in activities. Golf any of eight championship courses throughout the year, sample delectable treats from Ethel M Chocolates as you explore the Botanical Cactus Garden, the world’s largest cactus collection, pay respects at the Henderson Veteran's Memorial Wall or take your binoculars to the Bird Viewing Preserve.

Don your walking shoes, breathe in the ocean air and set out to discover this picturesque maritime town. You can join one of several organised walking tours or explore on your own. Portsmouth is filled with old homes and museums, and you'll have your pick of fascinating historic sites. Climb aboard the USS Albacore, a retired US Navy submarine offering tours and exhibits. View an 18th-century garden, striking stairway and period furniture at the Moffatt Ladd House, the home of William Whipple, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, or follow a costumed guide through the John Paul Jones House, home of the Revolutionary War naval hero. For a broader look at the city's history, visit Strawbery Banke Museum, where over 40 buildings have been assembled to depict Portsmouth life from 1695 to 1950, complete with costumed actors. If you know architecture, Portsmouth's array of Colonial, Federalist and Neo-classical styles will dazzle you. Weary of walking? Sit down for a meal at one of Portsmouth's fine eateries or relax on a narrated harbour or whale-watching cruise.

The small Brazilian village of Gramado is a quaint and woodsy respite that boasts some delightful surprises. After you’ve fully enjoyed the paddleboats and surrounding Black Forest pines of Lago Negro, pay a visit to Snowland, a unique indoor snow park. Kids will love a visit to Mini Mundo, a miniature park that features tiny replicas of famous landmarks.

Florianopolis was dubbed by Brazilian weekly Veja as "the best place to live in Brazil", so it’s only natural that tourists would want to check it out, too. And do they ever. Florianopolis is a thriving destination for its perfect beaches, excellent surfing, amazing seafood, and juxtaposition of a modern megacity with 16th-century colonial fortresses and relaxed markets and parks.

Don't be fooled by the initial appearance of this sprawling city with the typical fast-food places, malls and hotels; this region in the heart of Alaska's interior has a lot to offer. If you're lucky enough to be here between late September and early April, you can view the spectacular Northern Lights, or aurora borealis. At the old Gold Dredge No. 8, you can pan for gold, just as people did in the Gold Rush. The town's gold-mining heritage is also reflected at the University of Alaska Museum and Alaskaland Pioneer Park, a Wild West-style theme park that recreates early Fairbanks and includes a replica of a Native American village. Fairbanks is a starting point for some great adventures, such as the scenic 160-mile Steese Highway Drive or the McKinley Explorer train that runs to Denali National Park and Anchorage. Energetic outdoor types can hike, mountain bike, canoe, cross-country ski or take a slow river-float trip; others can relax on a river cruise aboard an authentic sternwheeler riverboat.