This bustling riverfront town offers good old-fashioned Southern hospitality, old-world charm and a treasure trove of discoveries for Civil War buffs. To really get the feel of another era, stroll through the National Historic District, a 28-block stretch of restored Victorian homes, gardens and gazebos, and tour the house museums in Heritage Corner. Situated on the Chattahoochee River, Columbus offers a mixture of old and new with the lovely 12-mile Columbus Riverwalk, which includes the Chattahoochee Promenade, a walking tour of historical markers. A chief supplier for the Confederate Army, the town's Civil War history is on display in myriad museums and historic sites like Port Columbus Civil War Naval Centre, which contains some of the Civil War's most important artifacts. But it's not all just war memorabilia: Columbus boasts a rich cultural side, with opera, symphony and a performing arts centre. And for family fun, head to the Coca-Cola Space Museum for a simulated flight and a look at the first Coke machine used in outer space.

Stunning coral reefs and turquoise waters perfect for windsurfing have made Hurghada, on Egypt's Red Sea Coast, a busy resort town. Within easy reach of the stunning Giftun Islands and the Eastern Arabian Desert, Hurghada has seen enormous amounts of development in the past decade—and yes, it does seem overrun with tourists at times. But it’s a relatively easy beach escape for Europeans, and some of the world's best diving and snorkeling sites are just offshore. Walk or catch a cab to explore the old quarter, El Dahar.