An Extended Journey Circumnavigating the New World

Surrounded by mountains, vibrant Vancouver is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and cosmopolitan adventurers alike. Meandering oceanside pathways surround eclectic neighbourhoods – Stanley Park, the West End, Gastown, Yaletown, Chinatown. A major global city, it is renowned for its cultural diversity and thriving art, theatre, music and food scenes. Its perfectly picturesque setting makes it popular filming location – with old-growth cedar forests, mountains covering 75% and two-thirds of Canada's bird species and land mammals. A big, bustling city perched on the edge of wilderness.

Astoria bears the watermark of its history as a strategic port on the mighty Columbia River overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The native Clatsop devised an extensive waterfront trade system. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition established a tiny, tactical fort. A few years later, Astoria was founded as a fur-trading post and the first U.S. city west of the Rockies. Soon, the maritime industry lead growth and remains today. Stroll into the solitude of the surrounding forests or along the town’s pleasant river walk, take in its deftly curated museums and growing arts scene. Witness American history unique to the pure and natural Pacific Northwest.

The city delights with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding parks for mindfulness and a strong community committed to oceanic and marine wildlife conservation efforts. You can hear the earth breathing in Muir Woods, as the wind whistles through some of her tallest and longest living redwood trees. Sip the temperate terroir in the valleys of Napa and Sonoma, the most acclaimed wine regions of America. Feel the love of the 1960s that still permeates through Haight Ashbury, where hippy culture still stokes the fires of free-thinkers. Step into iconic cable cars that lumber through gilded Nob Hill or climb the famously steep streets of classic “Dirty Harry” movies. A melting pot of cultures — gold rush pioneers, American farmers, Asian immigrants — is a recipe for the city’s ubiquitous dishes including delicate dim sum to cioppino seafood soup to rustic sour dough bread. San Francisco is to be enjoyed with your imagination fulfilled and your appetite thoroughly sated.

The city delights with its iconic Golden Gate Bridge and surrounding parks for mindfulness and a strong community committed to oceanic and marine wildlife conservation efforts. You can hear the earth breathing in Muir Woods, as the wind whistles through some of her tallest and longest living redwood trees. Sip the temperate terroir in the valleys of Napa and Sonoma, the most acclaimed wine regions of America. Feel the love of the 1960s that still permeates through Haight Ashbury, where hippy culture still stokes the fires of free-thinkers. Step into iconic cable cars that lumber through gilded Nob Hill or climb the famously steep streets of classic “Dirty Harry” movies. A melting pot of cultures — gold rush pioneers, American farmers, Asian immigrants — is a recipe for the city’s ubiquitous dishes including delicate dim sum to cioppino seafood soup to rustic sour dough bread. San Francisco is to be enjoyed with your imagination fulfilled and your appetite thoroughly sated.

Surrounded by ocean, mountains, forest, and desert, gilded with crystal-clear light and the rich diversity of people, LA glows with a heavenly quality. A blend of neighbourhoods each radiating with their own distinct vibe and character: Beverly Hills with its legendary shopping along Rodeo Drive; Hollywood with its movie studios; and Bel Air with its stately mansions. Relive the glory days of Tinseltown in downtown landmarks. Discover museums that hold illuminating works of Shakespeare, Thoreau and one of 12 surviving original Guttenberg Bibles. Then feel the creative firmament of mother nature at Santa Monica and Malibu Beaches. Truly, the stars have aligned to create such a legendary galaxy of sites.

San Diego exudes a beachy-chic, active, effortless elegance. Renowned for its idyllic climate, pristine beaches, and charming neighbourhoods. The Gas Lamp Quarter, where Wild West outlaws like Wyatt Earp once roamed, will steal your heart with theatre, art, and music. Little Italy, once home to generations of Italian seafaring families, now alive with cosy cafés and wine bars. Stunning Balboa Park, with its gorgeous gardens, impressive museums, and its richly historic El Prado District (listed on the National Registry of Historic Places), is rimmed with gardens and architectural gems from the early 1900s. Coastal La Jolla, one of the most popular beach destinations in California, is rich for kayaking, biking and wine strolls. You’ll agree with Forbes magazine that this is the “coolest city by the sea”.

At the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, a massive outcropping of volcanic rock, known as The Arch, is the beacon of welcome to this arid region of golden beaches and rugged mountains. Aboriginal inhabitants, the Pericú, flourished with the bounty of the sea. The waters still brim with so much biodiversity, Jacques Cousteau called it “the aquarium of the world”. Deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are as popular below the surface as sunbathing and celebrity sightings are above. World-class golf is set on some of the sport’s most cinematic courses whilst deep-sea fishing catches weigh-in amongst the sports more massive. Tour agave farms to taste tequila or stroll art galleries with wine, you will discover Cabo is a muse that tempts you to return again and again.

Hugging the cerulean Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta is a stunning resort city set against the rugged Sierra Madres and the powerful Ameca River. The indigenous Aztatlan lived in this paradise when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s and chronicled the area’s natural beauty still home to birds, humpback whales, and dolphins. Now, bordered by the busiest malecón (waterfront esplanade) in all of Mexico, restaurants and nightclubs go from dusk until dawn. From there, cobblestone streets climb up the hills to reveal galleries, boutiques, and cafés. The perfect place to toast the sunset and Mexico’s natural beauty teeming with life.

From time immemorial, this region has witnessed cultural, geographical, and political upheaval. Its position adjacent to fertile lowlands that run the length of the gorgeous black shoreline made it a strategic home to ancient civilisations. Pre-Olmec carved stone heads, the massive “fat gods”, are preserved nearby. Spanish conquistadors valued it as a gateway between the Americas. Just beyond, volcanoes strike boldly from the landscape where the Spanish crowned Antigua the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala. Now a UNESCO-protected village filled with breath-taking scenery – Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, brightly-coloured colonial buildings, and a lovely central square. Positioned in pursuit of purpose.

A tropical inlet surrounded by rainforest on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, Quepos is one of the best places in the world to immerse yourself in waterfalls and wonders where the rainforest meets the sea. Renowned as the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park (which recently received an Elite-level Certificate of Sustainable Tourism) where mangroves, lagoons, and virgin beaches shelter howler, white-faced and squirrel monkeys. Off-shore waters teem with whales, dolphin, blue marlin, and swordfish. In-land jungles offer hikes to Nauyaca waterfall, 360 species of brightly feathered birds, zip-lining and canyoning, or walking the Baru River to hear the quietude of nature. As prized as quaint Quepos is for eco-adventure, its beaches rank among the top 25 in the world, too.

Framed by two oceans connected by the singular Panama Canal (the 7th Wonder of the Modern World) this vibrant and dynamic urban centre is truly a city on the world’s stage of commerce and ecology. Sleek skyscrapers are surrounded by pristine nature. Soberanía National Park protects a bounty of flora and fauna minutes from downtown. Casco Antiguo, the cobblestoned colonial centre, is a lovely labyrinth of churches, palaces, and plazas lined with cafes and the best champagne rooftop bars in the city. A UNESCO creative hub for gastronomy, it is home to a vibrant and diverse food scene led by world-class chefs. An incredible cultural crossroads sure to connect you to the uncommon.

Sparkle in this jewel of the Caribbean; the cultured and very colourful Cartagena. Saunter or ride by Segway through a maze of cobbled streets for historic architecture, bougainvillea-dripping plazas, old churches and chic eateries where you’ll discover a blend of Caribbean cool and Colombian sophistication. Learn new cooking techniques with a personal chef, birdwatch at the National Aviary, visit botanical gardens, take a cycle tour or head to Turbaco. Roam offshore to Islas Del Rosario for magnificent beaches and snorkelling through colourful coral reefs. And as the sun sets over the ancient city walls, prepare for an intoxicating nightlife scene - in no time you’ll be sipping moreish mojitos, nodding to reggaeton and - once really in the spirit - gyrating to the salsa.

Wander into the reality of a serene Bahamian dream. Alluring, exclusive and eco-friendly, an escape to this island marine reserve is possibly the world’s most coveted invite. Slowly snorkel, gently paddle board or glide over aquamarine waters by boat. Wonder at marine life and nature in its natural habitat, visit the marina, lighthouse, lagoon and pastel-hued buildings. Recline for a beachside massage, settle into a lazy lunch, sip endless rum cocktails and sink into powdery white sands cooled by the soothing sways of palm leaves. If paradise was packaged, this island might be the finest gift.

Welcome to Miami and the sweep of South Beach - backdrop to every iconic Miami movie, and forefront of Latin American culture. Stroll through pastel-hued geometric buildings in the art deco district, to graffiti mural masterpieces at Wynwood Walls. Watch Latino life unfold in Little Havana - the heartbeat of this great city - where walk-up windows sell café cortadito, sweet sugarcane juice, hatuey beer and guava ice-cream. Watch passionate locals discuss politics, play dominoes and smoke cigars. Shimmy at a salsa class, shop designer boutiques and race marlin and sharks by speedboat. Then slow your pace to uncover rare and endangered species at the Everglades National Park outdoor oasis. You’ll find the Miami dream is real – and it’s not just Cuban heels that will give you a spring in your step.

Wake up to be part of a city that never sleeps. Fly by helicopter over the Manhattan Skyline for flawless images of the Statue of Liberty, neon-lit Times Square, sprawling Central Park, the skyscraping Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. Explore Picasso, Pollock and others at the Museum of Modern Art. Then create your own kitsch masterpiece from a blank canvas at a painting party in Havana’s emporium. Pay your respects and honour gallant heroes at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum mission. Listen to backstage stories in the Broadway theatre district, shop in the East Village, eat streetside hotdogs, sip cocktails in elegant bars, take in a show. And as evening falls, take a walk with your loved one over Brooklyn Bridge. Big, bold and brash – there's a lot to bite off in the Big Apple.

Wake up to be part of a city that never sleeps. Fly by helicopter over the Manhattan Skyline for flawless images of the Statue of Liberty, neon-lit Times Square, sprawling Central Park, the skyscraping Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. Explore Picasso, Pollock and others at the Museum of Modern Art. Then create your own kitsch masterpiece from a blank canvas at a painting party in Havana’s emporium. Pay your respects and honour gallant heroes at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum mission. Listen to backstage stories in the Broadway theatre district, shop in the East Village, eat streetside hotdogs, sip cocktails in elegant bars, take in a show. And as evening falls, take a walk with your loved one over Brooklyn Bridge. Big, bold and brash – there's a lot to bite off in the Big Apple.

Discover a city where the present merges seamlessly with the past. Cycle through cobbled streets rich in history to an array of famous landmarks and institutions. Explore the hallowed grounds of Harvard, cutting-edge restaurants, museums, fine art, a lively harbour and artisan boutiques. Taste delicacies from the food market, sip some of the world’s finest tea, while the afternoon away in a brewery, or simply absorb the ambiance as you stroll beautiful walkways through a green maze of urban space.

Embrace the perfect blend of urban charm, historic sites, captivating scenery and warm hospitality in Cape Breton. Applaud buskers along the charming waterfront, capture a moment beside the world’s largest fiddle and drop into eclectic boutiques. Hike along part of the far-reaching Cabot Trail – a must for anyone wishing to absorb the spectacular scenery. Immerse yourself in Nova Scotian culture as you engage in the works of local artisans – from painters to carpenters and glass blowers to chocolatiers, this truly is a handicraft haven.

Recharge on an escape to the Mingan Archipelago National Park. Visit historical sites amid an array of protected islands wrapped in sea-sculpted limestone. Discover impressive fossils on Niapiskau Island and wind your way through a rich array of flora and fauna on Quarry Island. Wander inland to the eco-friendly boreal forest where you’ll uncover impressive ancient limestone monuments. Tread quietly across pebble strewn beaches and striking coastal scenery to watch playful seals below soaring seabirds and meet the local Innu people to immerse in thousand-year culture.

Soak up the sublime scenery in a beautiful bay bathed in history and tradition. Visit historical sites, artisan boutiques, art galleries and taste local culinary delicacies. Immerse in remarkable nature as you explore forested National Parks, salmon-filled rivers, long stretches of countryside and mountainous coastlines dotted with lighthouses. Glimpse moose, gannet and caribou, and welcome kind locals’ warmth in sustained fishing villages, as you embrace this wildly picturesque peninsular.

Prepare to encounter a province thriving with culture and cuisine, history and heritage, and so much more. Explore impressive architecture, intriguing history, imposing landmarks and the treasured streets of UNESCO praised Old Québec. Relax at Parisian-style bistros and modern art exhibitions or choose to partake in thrilling alfresco pursuits. Delve deep into nature to kayak through a fjord, walk the width of Montmorency Falls, zipline, paddleboard, surf and mountain bike in tranquil settings. Home to capital Montréal and an incredibly friendly nation, there’s something for everyone in this mostly French speaking region.