Choosing an Australian destination, or even several, is never easy — this vast country spans nearly three million square miles, eight climates, and three time zones. Sydney is always a great pick, with beautiful parks, beaches, and architecture. Melbourne oozes vibrant energy, with world-class dining and access to the Great Ocean Road, a 150-mile blockbuster of coastal vistas and koalas in gum trees. However, if you really want to get Down Under, then the island state of Tasmania is the pearl of Australia.

It’s a good year to be a San Francisco sports fan. Sure, the Giants didn’t make the playoffs, but the FIFA World Cup is coming to the Bay Area this summer. Well, technically San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is in Santa Clara, but it’s totally doable to stay in the city itself, and with most of the games in the evening, you’ll have your days free to explore.

The first sign that things were different on board the giant cruise ship was that several of its passengers greeted one another by bringing their fingers together to form a heart. I had never been on a cruise before, but I could tell that the man buns and tattooed 30-somethings running around crying, “I need a hotspot!” meant this was not your grandmother’s — or even mother’s — floating holiday.

Any geologist can tell you how the Driftless was formed. It’s where flat prairie top breaks down into rolling hills, curves, and mounds that disrupt perspective across 24,000 square miles of southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the extreme northwestern corner of Illinois. Glaciers did not rub this area smooth. So, hills and bluffs (hence its other moniker, Bluff Country) are tucked within ancient springs, rivers, and positive vibes.

Charming is never the adjective that springs to mind when people think of New York City. Yet, once I stopped rushing to simply get from point A to point B, and took to walking leisurely through the streets, I discovered something beyond the soaring skyscrapers: that the city has another side, one that’s picturesque, a bit quieter, and, yes, seriously charming. This is the New York I have always been drawn to, and the inspiration for my book.

What’s the antidote to the endless East Coast winter? Four nights in Cartagena, Colombia. Alert the senses because here, in one of the oldest colonial cities in South America, it’s all color and contrast. The city is walled, the history immense, the streets are cobblestoned, and the homes are rainbow-hued with balconies dripping with bougainvillea.

This cluster of small fishing towns on Taiwan’s southeast coast is a nature lover’s — and surfer’s — vacation paradise. From secluded point breaks and open beaches to mountainous jungles and winding bike paths, there’s something for every adventurer. At night, if you listen closely you may even hear the local deer barking in the mountains.

Arrive at Hydra and you’re immediately welcomed into the arms of a magical amphitheater-type surround of dwellings that rise up from the sea into the hills beyond. Its proximity to Athens makes the island a doable day trip but, to stay, especially living like a local in a home, is another thing entirely.