"Known affectionately as the Pearl of Geneva, Montreux is not your average small town in Switzerland. Yes, its prime views of the snow-capped Alps and northeastern shores of Lake Geneva make it a clear must-visit for snowbirds among us, but the town is also home to a legendary jazz festival which has been graced by the legendary likes of Nina Simone, Miles Davis, and Ella Fitzgerald. Take advantage of the area’s mild microclimate, perhaps best experienced at the Quays of Montreux, a roughly 8-mile platform along the lakeshore perfumed by exotic flowers and covered by palm fronds. From December to May, intricate plant sculptures line the already idyllic walk." - Caitlin Morton