The North West seaside town of Blackpool was once the No.1 holiday destination for working-class British families. In the 1960s it would attract 17 million of them a year, until cheap, all-inclusive holidays to Spain cut their business in half. They called it "The Las Vegas Of The North" because of its bright lights and reputation for bawdy thrills.

Tourists arriving in Stockholm usually look forward to the Swedish capital's mix of history -- in places like Gamla Stan -- the vitality of its city center, and the tranquility provided by its unique archipelago.

Part outsize beach resort, part culture capital, Sydney, Australia, exemplifies the art of relaxed cosmopolitanism. Now that Aussie energy can be found in new restaurants and hotels in some oft-overlooked neighborhoods.