Head down a dusty track along Herdade da Comporta, an expanse of coastline just an hour from busy Lisbon, and you could find any number of surprises. You will see solitary majestic villas - one reason why this stretch of sand in the rural Alentejo region has been compared to the Hamptons of the 1970s - or, like me, a sapphire-coloured expanse of lake with dragonflies dancing across its surface.

With more than 800 miles of rugged coastline to experience, you'll find so many invigorating opportunities to dip your toes in Welsh waters and help celebrate the Year of the Sea.  The waters that lap this special segment of Britain have shaped the landscape over countless centuries - not just in geography, in carving out tall cliffs, gorgeous bays and soft beaches, but in their effect on the people who live alongside the waves.

With its shimmering harbour, sparkling ocean and stunning skyline, cosmopolitan Vancouver is frequently voted as one of the most liveable cities in the world - and it is easy to see why. Surrounded by mountains and over-looking the island-speckled Pacific, Vancouver has it all. Beaches and seaside promenades, Stanley park, the world's largest and most beautiful urban space, and the dizzying Capilano Suspension Bridge in the city's very own rainforest.

Just 70 miles off the coast of Venezuela; Tobago is a smart choice for first-time visitors to the Caribbean with a gentle, no-hurry vibe that means relaxation is guaranteed. It’s only 25 miles long and most hotels lie in the flat, south-west corner of the island – close to the airport and wide, sandy beaches that are a key attraction. Here the elegant Coco Reef Resort & Spa sits beside idyllic white sands and includes a child-friendly lagoon, while the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort features three pools and an 18-hole PGA-designed course.

As the leaves start to fall in New England, there’s no better time to visit the region’s largest city, which effortlessly combines a rich historical heritage with a forward-thinking spirit.  Boston has a long history of luring European travellers to the East Coast, and today one of America’s oldest cities remains one of the most rewarding urban destinations in the USA. Home to the most robust academic heritage in the country, Boston has always been an innovator, with gloriously forward-thinking culinary and cultural scene.

Have you ever touched a meteorite? Protected the earth against supernatural life? Or made a bicycle trip through the galaxy? You can experience all of these things at the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam: the only museum in the world where you are allowed to touch everything!

Experiencing science at its fullest: that is what NEMO is about. The massive seablue building, which is just a stone’s throw from the bustling city centre Amsterdam and its striking train station, houses some of the world’s most fascinating exhibitions on modern-day science.

Welcome to the Caribbean island that’s got it all – from wonderful weather to fabulous beaches, bars, restaurants and hotels. The celebs love it... and so will you when you touch down in paradise. If it’s jet-set central you are after for your Caribbean holiday then head straight for the island of Barbados, which has been drawing celebrities, business leaders and oligarchs to its sandy shores for years. And small wonder.

With a world dominated by social media, busy trains and crammed coffee shops, the idea of ‘getting away from it all’ seems so unlikely sometimes. But while the planet seems ever closer and more connected, there’s one last real wilderness out there to escape to.  With 8,000 miles of coastline, Western Australia accounts for almost half the continent. If it were a nation in itself, it would be the world’s tenth largest country. So, if you want some space to breathe, you’ve just found the ultimate getaway.

Just smell that nutmeg, as it’s turned into everything from jam and syrup to ice cream. And don’t forget the chocolate, coffee, sugar cane and bananas too.  Grenada is known as “The Spice Island” – and for good reason. It’s been a major producer of nutmeg for more than a century and one of its most atmospheric sights is the monumental wooden Nutmeg Processing Station set beside the sea at Gouyave. This deliciously scented warehouse seems unchanged since the day it opened in 1952, and the lucrative spice is so much a part of island life it features on the national flag.

Many a travel destination has a reputation written into popular perception in indelible ink. And perhaps nowhere more so than the Canary Islands. This much-loved Atlantic archipelago – with the biggest member of the group, Tenerife, sitting at its heart – renowned as a haven of winter sunshine, basking in temperatures which hover at around the 20C mark just as continental Europe is coping with the worst weather.