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.