Castle Douglas, United Kingdom

A mere market town as late as 1850, DOUGLAS was a product of Victorian mass tourism and displays many similarities to Blackpool, just across the water. The seafront vista has changed little since Victorian times, and is still trodden by heavy-footed carthorses pulling trams (May– Sept, from 9am; £2 return). On Harris Promenade the opulent Gaiety Theatre sports a lush interior, and the spruced-up Villa Marina gardens display more Victorian elegance, with their colonnade walk, lawns and bandstand.