See the bright lights of the Big Apple, international mecca and melting pot, with expensive brownstones, colourful neighbourhoods, great museums and ambling parks. Some come just for the shopping: there’s Bloomingdale’s on Lex, Tiffany’s on Fifth, Barneys and the unique boutiques along Madison. Or head downtown and explore the trendy shops of SoHo.

Brightly coloured houses, vibrant street life, a distinct buzz in the air – all are part of the experience when you visit the Schooner Market and watch merchants sell exotic fruit and fresh fish direct from tiny boats.

If you are interested in maritime engineering or iconic journeys, this should be high up your list of must-sails. This legendary canal is steeped with intrigue and blessed with ever-changing scenery. As you pass through the locks at either side of Gatun Lake, you’re slowly rising to, and dropping from, 26 metres above sea level, avoiding the lengthy and treacherous alternative route via Cape Horn.

What a place to peer memorably into the past. You may have a chance to witness Tikal, the ancient Mayan ruins where the terraced Pyramid of the Great Jaguar looms large. La Antigua Guatemala is a vision of colonial grace, as yellow churches and crumbling pastel houses are draped prettily in bougainvillea. Then it’s coffee time, so stop by an ecological estate to sample fragrant blends

Whilst growing as a fashionable tourist destination, the Mexican resort of Cabo San Lucas still maintains its sparse and uncrowded atmosphere, and boasts a warm hospitality which matches the sunshine. Nestled on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, Cabo is famous for its casual atmosphere, exciting nightlife, and stunning beaches and scenery.

When John Fremont sailed into San Francisco in 1846, he found no famous bridge, but a golden light reflecting off the high cliffs that flank the bay’s only entrance. He named it Golden Gate and its glowing welcome still creates a striking first impression today.

When John Fremont sailed into San Francisco in 1846, he found no famous bridge, but a golden light reflecting off the high cliffs that flank the bay’s only entrance. He named it Golden Gate and its glowing welcome still creates a striking first impression today.