An island with a delightful split personality: Sint Maarten on the Dutch side and Saint Martin on the French. Up north, French flair reigns — charming cafés, exquisite cuisine and a relaxed, romantic pace. Tucked between verdant hills you’ll find secret beaches, sweeping mountain panoramas and historic hilltop forts like Fort Louis overlooking Marigot, the island’s graceful capital.

Cardiff wears its history like a well-loved coat — familiar, textured and full of stories. As Wales’s capital, the city hums with a lively cultural pulse but it’s the arcades that steal the show: winding rows of Victorian and Edwardian glass-roofed alleys, each one a little world of independent shops, vintage finds and cozy cafés. At the heart of it all, Cardiff Castle rises — a stony silhouette against the sky — reminding you that past and present here are always in good company.

Eight miles west of San Pedro de Atacama, in the heart of the Atacama Desert, unfolds the enchanting Valley of the Moon. Part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve and declared a Nature Sanctuary in 1982, this spot offers a unique lunar landscape: rock formations and sand dunes patiently shaped by wind and water, as if time had carved a secret planet under the northern Chilean sun.

With a gorgeous beach for every day of the year, tortoise sanctuaries and loads of succulent seafood, Antigua & Barbuda is truly a hidden gem. The island offers endless amounts of sunbathing, swimming and water sports but still feels quaint and untouched. It also has rich British history as a British naval headquarters and sugar colony.

Chile’s Atacama Desert is said to be one of the best places in the world for stargazing because of its extremely dry climate, high altitude, minimal light pollution and near absence of humidity, creating crystal clear skies with perfect visibility of stars and constellations.

A UNESCO World Heritage gem since 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park dazzles with a fairy-tale cascade of tufa lakes, hidden caves and dramatic canyons, its waterfalls tumbling from heights over 250 feet. Emerald-green waters thread through 16 lakes and more than 90 falls, all inviting exploration along a network of wooden walkways and winding trails.

The Atlas Mountains unfurl for about 1,500 miles across northwestern Africa, a mosaic of sun-baked ridges, secret canyons and timeworn Berber villages. Local families tend terraced fields and cliffside gardens, carrying on age-old, self-sufficient traditions — churning golden butter, pulling warm loaves from wood-fired ovens. From the bustle of Marrakesh, you can be winding through this quieter, soulful landscape in roughly an hour.

Historically known as Spalato, Split is the sparkling heart of Dalmatia and the busiest port along the Croatian coast. It’s alsoo an irresistible launchpad for island-hopping adventures. You can slip away to postcard-perfect spots: the luminous Blue Cave, the wild beauty of Stiniva Cove, the peaceful beaches of Budikovac and the vibrant island of Hvar — each a short boat ride from Split’s harbor and each offering its own slice of Adriatic magic.

Antigua’s nearby villages brim with cultural charm — macadamia groves, handwoven textiles and the hearty flavors of traditional Guatemalan cuisine. Unplug, meander the quiet lanes and discover the gentle rhythms of life in these off-the-beaten-path indigenous communities.

Southwest Cappadocia is storybook: fairy chimneys, honeycombed cliffs and sculpted rock faces. Wander Pigeon Valley’s alcoves where light and drifting birds add quiet poetry. Climb Selime Monastery’s cavernous chapels and carved stairways. Follow Ihlara Valley’s cool, green canyon with a river and frescoed cliffside churches. Descend the Underground City’s labyrinth of chambers. Together, these sites form an ancient, living tapestry of nature and history.

Nestled within 13th-century town walls, the sleepy harbor town of Tenby, Wales, cradles golden sandy beaches that sweep toward the sea beneath the romantic ruins of Tenby Castle and the amiable Tenby Museum and Art Gallery. Tenby’s colorful Georgian houses, quaint narrow streets and welcoming seaside atmosphere make it utterly charming.

Greater Montenegro is a tapestry of stirring history and vast, dramatic landscapes — where the solemn grandeur of Lovćen’s Mausoleum, the regal stone streets of the Royal Old Capital and the serene expanse of Skadar Lake each tell a different part of the country’s story. Wander through mountainous viewpoints that feel carved for postcards and discover hidden coastal gems where history lingers in every breeze.

Croatia's second largest city, Split is a Dalmatian seaside town brimming with Roman ruins and natural splendor. This Mediterranean paradise is also the perfect jumping off point to island hop or explore nearby beaches and hidden caves.

The "Red City" of Marrakesh is a wonderful mix of European, Middle Eastern and African culture. Set in the foothills west of the Atlas Mountains, the city home to beautiful boutique hotels, intimate gardens, upscale spas and hammams, delicious restaurants and charming riads.

Busting with idyllic beaches, parrot sanctuaries and wild zip lines, Sint Maarten is a Dutch territory and country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea, this little island is also home to Saint Martin in the north.

Setting out on my third career and finally feeling confident. But what is Interior Design, anyway? And what it isn’t.