St Paul is the capital of the sprawling, vibrant metropolis of Minnesota where 11 miles of sky walkways allow locals to get around in cold weather. 

We arrive at the town of Petaski and grab a beer then back on the road passing through a narrow road heavily hemmed by trees – it’s dubbed the tunnel of the trees.

The water is supremely serene and stunningly blue in the afternoon sun. Yet it is freezing. The owners of the resort dish out hats, scarves, blankets and warm cocoa with crème de menthe to sip in the pontoon while enjoying a invigorating ride across the lake.

It’s a four-and-a-half hour drive to Traverse City, a farming area in Michigan with plenty of cherry trees and, unexpectedly, rows of vineyards. The scenic 65-acre Chateau Chantal Winery is located on top of a ridge on the Old Mission Peninsula.

When you feel like an escape into nature with a dollop of culture thrown in, perhaps consider an Autumnal road trip to America’s Great Lakes. Nature herself provides you with visual entertainment with an abundance of lushly hued foliage of orange, red, purple, browns and yellows.

Lying in the north eastern corner of Italy, next to the border with Austria, the Dolomite mountains are a paradise for walkers, with views of their thrusting pale spires changing at every turn.

A black pebble turns out to be an explosion of cheese and pistachio cream as you bite into it. What appears to be plastic bag containing dried shrimps is all edible. You suck up a margarita through a straw poked into what looks like a Venus fly trap.

If you are a nature lover or budding photographer, Madagascar should be at the top of your bucket list. In this vast and luscious island, 90 per cent of all animal and plant species are totally unique. It also has a vibrant culture, with festivals celebrating all things Malagasy  throughout the year.

While you can visit Madagascar in the first three months of the year, you are likely to get very wet. In January rainfall can reach up to 340mm and in February there is a high risk of cyclones, particularly in the northeast of the island.

After 3 months of rainfall, April comes as a relief to the residents of Madagascar. While there may still be some downpours, there will also be plenty of sunshine – the perfect combination to entice the island’s wildlife out of hiding.

July marks the start of Madagascar’s peak tourist season, so it’s advisable you book everything well in advance to avoid disappointment. By now we are in the midst of Madagascar’s winter so temperatures drop to a cooler 15-20°C and it is also much dryer.

If you are a nature lover or budding photographer, Madagascar should be at the top of your bucket list. In this vast and luscious island, 90 per cent of all animal and plant species are totally unique. It also has a vibrant culture, with festivals celebrating all things Malagasy  throughout the year.