Tall hotels rise up from the golden beaches in Málaga, the historic enclave on the Costa del Sol. While the Mediterranean bathes its coastline, Málaga's mountains back the city to form a cocoon that ensures mild weather. Málaga is among the world's oldest cities, founded 2,800 years ago and settled by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Visigoths and Christians. Looming over the skyline are the citadels Alcazaba and Castle of Gibralfaro, remnants of Moorish rule. Málaga was revitalized in recent years, now featuring some 30 museums and an edgy urban art community.

The approach to Menorca reveals white houses clinging to rocks with a historic town rising above one of the world's largest natural harbors, used as a port since the 3rd century BC. King Island floats halfway in, featuring ruins of a 6th-century basilica. The streets of Menorca present an interesting blend of ancient treasures, such as the medieval wall of San Roque Arch and the relics in the Museu de Menorca, and more recent gems, including the grand Georgian homes that remain from the British occupation of the island.

Canadian dimes are emblazoned with Bluenose, a fishing schooner renowned for racing undefeated in international competition. Lunenburg is home to Bluenose II, a faithful replica and just one of many distinctive facets of this town’s waterfront. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Old Town Lunenburg mingles the past with present-day fun. Peppering the narrow streets are colorful façades of colonial buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the salty life of seafaring and rum running comes alive at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

A historic treasure, Louisbourg is home to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, which offers a glimpse into what life was once like in this bustling town fortified by the French in the 18th century. This is also one of the busiest fishing villages in the Maritimes, and a meal of fresh chowder and lobster would be perfectly complemented by a sip of Fortress Rum, matured in oak barrels within the fortress. Hikers along the seaside may spy native puffin or moose, and a jaunt along the biking trails reveals even more of verdant Cape Breton Island.