February

Sultry sizzling Miami has it all: miles of sunny beaches, pulsing nightlife, fine dining, trendy shopping, an exciting arts scene and a vibrant cultural life. The warm February sun won’t sap your strength, leaving plenty of energy to explore the city’s diverse neighbourhoods. Admire Art Deco in South Beach, dine Cuban-style in little Havana and enjoy the off-beat Coconut Grove Arts Festival (14-15 February 2009). www.gmcvb.com

March

North America’s oldest city and one of the world’s largest, Mexico City pulsates with life and culture. The vast open Zocalo is the gathering place for social and political events and on festival days throngs with crowds surrounding spectacularly dressed dancers as they stomp and chant to a rhythmic drumbeat.www.mexicocity.com.mx

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April

The silent moai giants characterise the utterly idiosyncratic Easter Island. These huge brooding statues are definitely best contemplated in isolation so visit in April, after the summer crowds have gone and before the winter chill sets in, for a better chance of having them all to yourself. www.visitchile.org

May

The city’s seductive mix of retro charm, edgy hip, and sleepy Southern eccentricity is rolled into one during the Memphis in May festival. The festivities kick off with the Beale Street Music Festival showcasing blues, soul and southern roots artists. Mid-month sees foodies descend for the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the whole thing rounds off with the Sunset Symphony picnic and party. www.memphisinmay.org

June

With a versatility to be proud of, Montreal suits every sensibility. Besides being a haven for grown-up pleasures, the city also excels at entertaining families. Visit the Montreal Biodome, cycle along Canal Lachine or picnic in Mont Royal Park. Practically everything shuts down at the end of June for the International Jazz Festival so if you dislike crowds visit earlier in the month and soak up the laid-back vibe. www.tourisme-montreal.org

July

A horizon-to-horizon expanse of pure, blinding white, the vast high plain known as the Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt pan. It is so out of the ordinary, it fully justifies the sobriquet of surreal. Driest and clearest in midwinter, it is best explored by 4WD taking in the salt flats, geysers, and incredible rock formations. www.uyuni.com.bo

August

The expanses of sub-Arctic tundra and alpine peaks of Denali National Park, Alaska, practically guarantee memorable views and wildlife-viewing opportunities. August is a warm and colourful month in which to visit. There may be a little summer congestion but it’s never really crowded, unless you count the population of grizzlies, caribou, moose and other inhabitants. www.reservedenali.com

September

If the word desert suggests a featureless expanse of windblown sand to you, the spectacular scenery of southern Utah will come as a revelation. The so-called “high-country” is a wonderland where the bare bones of the earth lie eroded in a million peculiar formations perfect for exploration. www.utah.com

October

Churchill is known as the polar bear capital of the world. But there is more to it than that. Other wildlife abounds and a walk downtown may be accompanied by a red fox or an arctic hare. It’s a cultural meeting place too in which three native cultures – the Cree, Dene and Inuit - are linked by fur trade history. Visit a northern trapping camp for a ride on a husky dogsled. www.polarbearalley.com

November

The Bahamas is like a vast natural theme park, with safe sandy beaches, warm waters and pirate hide-outs. Everything about the islands is colourful, from their rich cultural heritage and traditional architecture, to the coral reefs and bathtub-warm waters in electrifying shades of turquoise and blue. www.bahamas.com

December

15 times the height of Niagara, the Angel Falls in Venezuela spill relentlessly and gently from the top of a tepuy (a kind of rugged flat-topped mountain) into the Devil’s Canyon below. There are no roads even to Canaima, the base camp for trips to the falls and from there it’s either a flight, hike or upriver paddle in a dugout canoe to witness the tallest waterfall on earth. www.salto-angel.com

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