Newport, Rhode Island, USA

Breathtaking shorelines, gorgeous sunsets, sparkling waters, fresh seafood and world-famous sailing are the just the beginning of what's on tap in Newport. From the Cliff Walk to the Ten Mile Drive, there's no shortage of amazing experiences in the “City by the Sea,” but the opulent mansions built by wealthy industrialists must top the list. Gloriously styled after Italianate palazzi, French châteaux and Elizabethan manors, these impeccably restored homes, known as the summer “cottages” of the elite, are filled with priceless antiques and must be seen to be believed. Couple that with the vast array of immaculately preserved buildings from the colonial era, and Newport is any architecture lover's paradise. After gawking at the lavish display, try some chowder, nibble a clam cake and sip a coffee cabinet – a famous Rhode Island milkshake.