The Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean at the town of Portimão in the Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region. Here sandstone cliffs and striking rock formations frame the shorelines, and golf courses are as plentiful as the beaches. The long stretch of golden sand known as Praia da Rocha offers parasailing, kayaking and other watersports. Along the riverfront promenade, open-air eateries serve the local specialty of freshly grilled sardines, and you can learn about Portimão’s history as a fishing port in the award-winning museum housed in a former cannery.

Blessed with sunshine, sand and an astonishing selection of historical sites, Tarragona is a rare combination of natural beauty and rich culture. Vestiges of classical Roman structures dot the length and breadth of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site known in ancient times as Tarraco. The Paseo Arqueológico takes you on a stroll along the Roman walls that encircle the Old Town.

On the southern coast of England and offshore Portsea Island stands the home of the British Royal Navy, the harbor city of Portsmouth. A proud naval heritage is evident in the Historic Dockyard where modern ships are moored alongside classics like Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, which defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Trafalgar. The wreckage of Henry VIII’s Mary Rose, which capsized offshore in 1545, is displayed in a nearby museum, and on the southern tip of the island stands Southsea Castle, constructed in 1544 to defend those same waters.