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| Sydney |
| Thanks to time zones this is one of the first places on earth you can celebrate NYE – and Sydney knows how to party. New Years is just the start though; Australia Day (Jan. 26) and the Sydney Festival keep the fun going all month. Not sold? January = summer in Australia and Sydney is alllll about the beach. |
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| Rio de Janeiro |
| Fashion tip: less is more in Rio, especially at the beach. February brings warm weather and Carnival, one of Brazil's biggest bashes. Snag a ticket to the Sambadrome to watch colorful costumes and parades, then sleep off the caipirinhas on that famous Copacabana sand. |
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| Sanibel Island |
| Shells on shells on shells. That's Sanibel in a nut-shell (see what we did there?). It's widely known as the best shelling spot on the planet, and March is the prime time to visit. To prevent the beachcomber perma-hunch, take a break at J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, where you can get your token Florida alligator pic. |
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| AMSTERDAM |
| Every spring, Holland's tulip fields put on such a gorgeous display it's kind of unfair to other flowers. Add in those picturesque windmills and you've got a real-life Van Gogh landscape that you can bike through. Stick around Amsterdam for the Apr. 27 King's Day celebration – it's a birthday party of royal proportions. |
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| Los Cabos |
| Is there ever a bad time to be at the beach? We don't think so. Go in May and you'll get shoulder season savings, fewer crowds and perfect weather (no rain)! Plan your trip over Cinco de Mayo and be prepared for a wild party ... All. Night. Long. |
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| ASPEN |
| Skiing? Of course. But summers in Aspen are spectacular too. You've got to head to the Maroon Bells - the most photographed mountains in all of Colorado. And if your appetite drives your travel, grab tix to the Aspen Food and Wine Classic and indulge all your foodie fantasies. |
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| BOSTON |
| Nothing screams "Independence Day" like listening to the Boston Pops perform the Star Spangled Banner while fireworks explode over the Charles River. Come early and you'll get to see Harborfest, a family-friendly event leading up to the 4th. It doesn't hurt that July also brings the best weather for this historic, super walkable town. |
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| SOUTH DAKOTA |
| What do you get when you combine bison, a motorcycle rally, giant stone heads and a palace made out of corn? The ultimate South Dakota road trip! Up your Americana game by doing the drive in August, when good weather and plenty of events make for a perfect end to summer. |
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| South Africa |
| Safari on your mind? September is the best time to do it at South Africa's Kruger National Park. Crowds are thin. The weather's dry. Animals are easier to spot at watering holes. Start planning early; safari trips take time to coordinate. |
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| Albuquerque |
| If you've never been to Albuquerque, put it on your bucket list. The annual International Balloon Fiesta, October 7-15, is the largest in the world. Spend a day restaurant hopping in Old Town to get your chile fix. Breaking Bad fan? Walk in Walter White's footsteps with a tour of the show's iconic spots. |
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| Kauai |
| Kauai's weather is pretty fantastic all year, so what we love about November is that fewer people come, it's easy to find hotel deals and you're more likely to have a beach to yourself. Bonus: whales arrive toward the end of the month. |
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| Vienna |
| Visiting Vienna feels like you're traveling back in time. Take a walk down the cobblestone streets and you almost expect to see Mozart sitting at an outdoor cafe. Stop in for a glass of Austrian Glühwein (mulled wine) and do some shopping at one of the dozens of Christmas markets around the city. |
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