A city so full of life and love, it drew us in instantly. Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan capital, filled with a mix of tradition and modern lifestyle. From holidays to everyday life, there a tango beat to this city.

Brazilians know this tropical paradise lined with vibrantly painted boats and traditional colonial homes. I am not sure how they kept it a secret from the rest of us for so long. This beach paradise town overlooks Ilha Grande Bay.

Uruguay is too often overlooked when visitors plan their South American adventure, yet this coastal country is well worth a visit. Generally safe, it's more liberal than some of its neighbours. We visited three cities, all which should have earned a spot on this list. Montevideo, the capital city, has a European flair, while Punte del Este is a beach resort city, and Colonia del Sacramento is a historic delight.

Chile’s Atacama desert is best known as being the driest non-polar desert in the world. It is this atmosphere in the high elevation that creates endless unique landscapes and salt flats. Interestingly, San Pedro de Atacama, the main town, is a lush desert oasis.

Alaska is one of those amazing places that makes it nearly impossible to pick a favourite city. For me, a summertime destination, we started in Anchorage, travelling first inland to Denali and then south on a cruise ship. Skagway, a former gold rush town, was one of my favourite stops.

Vancouver is one of those cities where I instantly felt at home. It is friendly, livable, clean, and walkable. One of our highlights was just outside the city, when we headed to the mountains and walked across the 140 metre (450 feet) Capilano Suspension Bridge as it swayed gently some 70 metres (230 feet) above the Capilano River canyon.

We love road trips as they allow us to enjoy getting off of the beaten path as we travel between destinations. The Oregon coast, continuing down to San Francisco, California, is spectacular, offering dramatic clifftop scenery, blowholes, wildlife, redwood trees, and much more. It's an ever-changing masterpiece of nature.

What can I say about my adopted city? I live here by choice and have for over 16 years. Unending beauty, Auckland is a city filled with an eclectic mix of nature and culture. There are seemingly endless things to do in Auckland, and even after all these years of exploration, we are finding new options.

A geothermal wonderland near the centre of the North Island, Rotorua is a must-see unique destination in New Zealand. It's filled with natural wonders, extreme-adventure opportunities, healing spas, and cultural learning opportunities.

I couldn't include our Oregon road trip above and not Australia's Great Ocean Road. We started from Melbourne (my favourite Australian city), but the drive officially runs from Torquay to Allansford along the southern coast of Australia in the state of Victoria. Be warned, much of the drive is inland through temperate rainforest, but it is here that we spotted Koala and other wildlife.

Rarotonga is a tropical paradise and one of the most popular Pacific Island retreats for New Zealanders. The Cook Islands are only a few hours away by flight, use New Zealand currency, and offer white sandy beaches and crystal clear water.

A recent addition to our list, I never expected to fall in love with Bangkok, but I did. It is a colourful city filled with golden temples, elaborate architecture, and tempting aromas. The hottest city in the world may also be the most fascinating.

While we spent the majority of time in China in the major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an), it was the small town of Suzhou that won my heart. It's a quick train ride from Shanghai, but world's apart. Best known for beautiful Chinese gardens, we also enjoyed meeting locals and learning about daily life.

A labyrinth of narrow streets, many leading nowhere, means getting lost in the Fes medina is almost a must-do for visitors. And don't worry, there are plenty of people who will take a small tip to get you back to where you want to go. Fes is Morocco's second-largest city, a former capital, and a mix of the old world and the modern Fes outside of the medina gates.

Instantly, we understood why Chefchaouen is called the blue city. It's a small, walled city, perfect for walking, camera in hand. This is a city with an interesting history.

A wind surfer's paradise, Essaouira is a beach town along the west coast of Morocco. Laid-back, it's a fun town filled with a mix of traditional values and familiar activities. Camels on the beach, intense sunsets, and an old-world medina, this is the city in which our girls learned to surf.

Located in the northwest corner of Spain, La Coruña is a liveable beach city filled with an interesting history and beautiful beaches. We stayed in this often off the tourist track city on a home exchange and discovered a delightful place.

Lourdes is a city of multiple documented miracles. It is well-known for having healing waters and pilgrims flock here daily. For tourists, it is a beautiful and fascinating village in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains.