The Azores

The Azores is, in some ways, that fascinating place. The Azores, a collection of nine islands located roughly 1,000 miles off the coast of mainland Portugal, was created thousands of years ago by a sequence of earthquakes and volcanoes. Its Atlantic climate has allowed evergreen flora to take the root of its leftover detritus, resulting in strange vistas perfect for exploration.

The Azores' islands are peppered with miles-long calderas engulfed in tropical greenery, multi-colored lakes, centuries-old Portuguese settlements, or all of the above. At any given moment, one-third of the world's cetacean species may be found in the sea. And if you go to Furnas Valley on So Miguel island, you may swim in hot baths that contain minerals created by a dormant volcano and are thought to assist with anything from allergies to anemia. Whatever path you choose to experience the Azores' charm, know that you'll be hard pushed to discover a location like this anyplace else in the world.