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MIAMI, FLORIDA — Saturday, May 23, 2009

It has the largest city population in Florida, is the third most visited American city among international travelers and showcases an Art Deco Historic District encompassing one of the largest neighborhoods entered on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Miami certainly boasts its share of impressive characteristics, even before adding to the list its gorgeous beaches, spirited Cuban population and ritzy enclaves of Coral Gables and Coconut Grove.

Miami wasn't always the glamorous and energetic city you see today. Until the late 1800s, it was mostly swamp, disconnected from the rest of the country thanks to its position on the edge of the continent and lack of the essential link of the day: a railroad. All that changed in 1896, when the railroad in northern Florida was extended to the latent tropical paradise of the south.

The rest, as they say, is history, as Miami has since seen recurrent booms fueled by surges of immigration, perennially good weather and an insouciant refusal to do anything halfway. Admire the full glory of Miami Beach with a stroll along South Beach's famous Ocean Boulevard, where splendidly restored art deco buildings compete with fashion models and sun worshipers for attention. For a taste of Cuban cuisine and culture, visit Little Havana on the mainland (Miami Beach is separate both in its municipality and its geography: it sits on a barrier island four miles off the coast, and is reached by a causeway). Also outside mainland Miami are the acres of rare tropical plants nurtured to their fragrant and beautiful best in Fairchild Tropical Gardens. The aforementioned slice of heaven known as Coral Gables lies to the southwest. A gem of 1920s city planning, the city unfurls impressive boulevards and features the alluring Venetian Pool, where waterfalls and underwater caves offer the chance for a uniquely refreshing dip.

HAMILTON, BERMUDA — Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Venture ashore in Bermuda, where the 1609 shipwreck of HMS Sea-Venture is thought to have inspired Shakespeare’s The Tempest! Bermuda is rich in history, having played a recurring role in United States history from the settlement of Virginia, to the War of 1812 invasion of Washington D.C., to the transit of American Civil War Confederate blockade runners.

The neatly maintained vintage shops of Front Street are at your doorstep when you dock at Hamilton. British inluences have blended comfortably with the casual island style. Explore the town, including the Royal Yacht Club and the Historical museum, or take a drive around the island to the Botanical Gardens and St. George’s, the old capital with its 18th-century Towne Hall. Opportunities to glimpse the past, snorkel, kayak, commune with nature, and enjoy Bermudian hospitality abound.

PONTA DELGADA, THE AZORES — Sunday, May 31, 2009

Get out and about in the Azores, whose lush vistas, picturesque streets, and natural beauty await your discovery. A cluster of islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between Portugal and North America, the Azores were established in 1427 by Portuguese explorers. Due to its strategic location, the Azores were often the focus of battles and pirate threats.

Ponta Delgada offers timeless and contemporary pleasures, from classic blue-tile azulejos, sumptuous houses and twisting streets to Portuguese cuisine. The countryside blends volcanic features, lakes, plains, and beaches. Visit a botanical garden; snorkel; birdwatch; or take a leisurely beach interlude.

LISBON, PORTUGAL — Thursday, September 3, 2009

Cosmopolitan Lisbon was the center of the world's last great colonial empire. Today the city nostalgically reveres its imperial past while adapting to Portugal's role as a member of the European Economic Community.

Although located on the Atlantic coast, Lisbon has the soul of a Mediterranean city with Moorish castles, pastel and white buildings, orange-tiled roofs and luminous blue skies. Set amid the hills and valleys of the northern shore of the River Tagus, it is one of the loveliest capitals in the world.

Photo above is the Augusta Street Arch in Lisbon.