Nature

Set in the valley of Zillertal in Tirrol, Austria, is the scenic town of Mayrhofen;  a top destination for the ski season, and a delight during the summer months, thanks to an abundance of flora and fauna.

Put together any list of North America's top 10 scenic roads, and few in the know would fail to include the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia among their number.  The 298km highway loops around the Cape Breton Peninsula at the northern tip of the province, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of St Lawrence.

Chances are when you think of Jordan, you're more likely to imagine deserts and ancient monuments than canyoning in a river valley in the world's lowest nature reserve.  But while star destination like Petra deservedly takes the spotlight, Jordan has more than a few surprising attractions which are still off the beaten tourist track. Now with budget flights to the country's capital Amman, it's easier and cheaper than ever to discover the country. 

Wellness tourism is nothing new in Slovenia. It's countryside is seriously idyllic - especially in and around Lake Bled to the mountainous nations north-west. It was here that pioneering Swiss wellness expert Dr Arnold Rikli established a 'healing institute' in 1855, prescribing a strict meat-and-booze-free diet, and a routine of hikes in the hills and swims in the lake, much of which was to be done naked for maximum sun exposure.

The Elizabethan manor of Longleat, with its grand dimensions and adornments has a radical element - the West Wing. Here, numerous doors camouflaged by a sweeping mural punctuate a grand corridor. I'm overcome with giddy suspense each time our guide clicks over the key, knowing that no single room has been spared the creative stroke of its owner's paintbrush.

Anyone who has seen the movie Sideways will know that exploring California's wine regions will be a trip of a lifetime before you've even packed your bags. The Golden State not only has some of the most exciting pinot noirs on the planet, it is home to artisan towns, epic scenery, great wildlife, welcoming locals and, of course, fascinating wineries.

Few adventures still stir the soul like the great American road trip. This near-mythical experience seems to go to the very heart of the world's third largest country - the Mustang, the Charger, the Bronco all being cars that conjure up the spirit of riding horseback across wild, unchartered land - and hitting the road is the embodiment of freedom in the land of the free.

Dreaming of meeting kangaroos, koalas and platypuses? There are a ton of reasons why a road trip through the temperate state of Victoria is the best way to achieve your Aussie wildlife goals. Here are two of them. First, you get to start from the very  cool state capital of Melbourne. It's an arty, photogenic city famous for its food scene, cultural credibility and laneways of pint-sized bars, boutiques and galleries.

You've probably got a mental picture of California. Maybe it's rows of palm trees against a perfect, azure sky. Maybe it's the Hollywood sign, Mullholland Drive twisting into the night above a million twinkling lights, the mansions of Beverly Hills. Maybe it's the Golden Gate Bridge, the precipitous streets of San Francisco, the vast, glittering Pacific Ocean. These things are all California icons, and you should definitely go and see them, but there's a lot more in between that you miss while cruising at 35,000 feet. California is huge and varied: dramatic mountains, sun-baked vineyards, blissful beaches. To really get to know the Golden State, you need to be in a car. Forget internal flights with their dull check-ins and romance-free shuttle buses, and get behind the wheel. Here are three great road trips that we suggest.

With the night's getting longer and the weather becoming colder, now is the time to start thinking about escaping to a winter paradise in the sun. Barbados is a great antidote to the cold winter weather, with a combination of breathtakingly beautiful sandy beaches, lush, wild tropical vegetation, tantalising food and drink almost- guaranteed, year-round sunshine.