Things to Do in Riviera Maya & The Yucatan

King’s Park, also known as Kungsparken, became the first large park in Malmo when it was established by King Oscar II of Sweden in 1872. Originally called Castle Park, it was developed on ground that was once home to the Malmohus Castle fortifications. Covering more than 21 acres in the center of the city, the park was inspired by the English-style of landscape gardening at the time.

A sea of high-rise office towers and modern skyscrapers encompassing 1.6 square kilometers at the western tip of the city, La Défense is Paris' purpose-built business district -- a modernist showcase of Paris in the 20th century.

La Défense was developed back in the 1960s by then President Charles de Gaulle, in an effort to minimize the detrimental effect of office blocks taking over downtown Paris. Restricting building heights across the city center, the business district was pushed to the western end of the city’s 10km-long Historical Axis, which stretches between the Louvre, the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe.

A towering district of glass and steel structures and the largest dedicated business district in Europe, La Défense boasts a number of striking buildings, including the GAN Tower -- Paris' tallest skyscraper at 179 meters -- and one of Europe’s largest shopping malls, Les Quatre Temps. The area’s most famous landmark is the iconic Grande Arche, or Tête Défense, a distinctive modernist building in the shape of a giant, hollow cube - an unmissable marker on the Paris skyline. Designed by Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen as a 20th century version of the Arc de Triomphe, the white marble Grande Arche stretches 110 meters into the air and features spectacular panoramic views from its terrace observation platform.

Katong District is one of the more noticeable neighborhoods in Singapore, lined with 19th century villas and mansions belonging to some of the richest folks in the country. With many of its inhabitants coming from the Far East, the town is also known for its restaurants and cafes, which offer Peranakan cuisine as well as spicy local foods.

A taste of old Singapore, the history of Katong features the stories of businessmen from England, Portugal, China and France, who all made their wealth there. Because the town fell under the rule of British colonialism nearly 200 years ago, a lot of the structures that stand today were built using British architecture. Luckily, what does exist is in pristine conditions as Katong is known as one of the cleanest areas in Singapore.

As a known destination that is also conveniently located by the sea, there are a number of modern accommodations as well as lovely souvenir shops and shopping centers.

Since its creation in 1857 by members of the Lebanese Jesuit community, the vineyard at Chateau Ksara has produced award winning wines ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon to Syrah, from Gewurtzraminer to Chardonnay. Set in the Bekaa Valley at an average altitude of 3,300 feet, Chateau Ksara benefits from fertile clays soils and the warm days and cool nights of a classically Mediterranean climate.

The oldest and largest winery in Lebanon, Chateau Ksara is conveniently set on the road between the Lebanese capital of Beirut and the historic ruins of Baalbek. Visitors to Chateau Ksara are invited to take a complimentary tour of the ornately manicured property and sample some locally crafted Lebanese wines. Those wanting to broaden their palate should also try a glass of arak, the national drink of Lebanon which can be found in various forms throughout the Middle East.

A particular highlight of touring Chateau Ksara is viewing the ancient grotto which is now used as a massive storage room. Accidentally discovered in 1898 by the Jesuit winemakers, the 1.2 mile long subterranean grotto is carved into limestone rock and believed to date back to the Roman period nearly 2,000 years ago. Though its exact origins are still uncertain, the cool, dark recesses of the grotto provide the perfect temperature for storing and aging wines. Thanks to this fortuitous twist of fate, as many as 900,000 bottles are currently stored in the grotto with a few vintages dating as far back as 1918.

One of the more famous neighborhoods in Singapore, Kampong Glam is a preserved town once home to the Malay and Muslim elite that inhabited it prior to British colonization in the early 19th century.

Although the town was comprised of a multitude of ethnic groups over the last few hundred years, much of this pristine town has been restored to its former beauty, with strips of colorful shop houses now home to modern businesses.

Among some of its other key features includes one of the most important mosques in the country, the Sultan Mosque. It also has a peaceful pedestrian walk called the Bussorah Mall as well as the recently opened Malay Heritage Center, which contains loads of cultural pieces and history showcasing the lives of Malay Singaporeans.

As a destination for foreign visitors, the town itself now has several local restaurants as well as art galleries textile and carpet shops to peruse.

The Kranji War Memorial, located in northern Singapore, is an impressive structure built in 1946 immediately following the Second World War to commemorate the soldiers from the allied and regional countries who fought and died protecting Malaysia and Singapore from the invading Japanese forces.

Made up of a cemetery of nearly 5,000 servicemen and a separate memorial bearing the names of more than 24,000 others, the war memorial is divided in three segments to represent the different branches of the military, the Air Force, Army and Navy. Of the tombstones, about 850 remain without names.

Upon entering the memorial, there is a large bronze door nearby a reference book for each of the names within. On Remembrance Day, which is typically held in November, there is a rather large service at the memorial to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.

Home to some of the last remaining forests of the endangered Chilean Wine Palm, La Campana became a national park in 1967 and contains over 17,000 acres of settlement ruins, hiking trails, and exotic wildlife.

Naturalist and explorer Charles Darwin himself paid the spot a visit in 1834, hiking to the top of the scenic hill that gave the park its name. With various types of hawks, alligators, eagles, snakes, owls, and giant frogs, it´s no wonder UNESCO has recognized the area as a Biosphere Reserve for its high number of unique species.

Those wanting to recreate Darwin's journey can take the El Andinista Trail (Sendero El Andinista), which lasts the average hiker around five hours and is quite a difficult climb. Enthusiasts will be rewarded at the summit by a plaque commemorating Darwin's accomplishment and, more importantly, a panoramic view of the Andes and surrounding coastal valleys – even a sliver of the Pacific Ocean, if the day is particularly clear. Just don´t forget to register at the checkpoint for more detailed advice and important guidelines to follow while trekking.