Take the Sierra Railroad – created in 1897 to connect the Central Valley to the Gold Country – which crosses a section of the Sierra Nevada foothills, and the Napa Valley Wine Train, a restored 1915 Pullman train car, through the region's beautiful wine country.
Rooms from £140 (marrakech-riad.co.uk/riad-star-homepage/) Le Palais Paysan This modern retreat opened in the foothills of the Atlas mountains this summer, offering respite from the heat and hustle of Marrakech, 25km away.
Yet in the foothills of Britain's fastest-growing town, an army of young political activists has descended – and they are determined to knock on every door.
Now we were in the foothills of the mighty Altai mountain range: a barely touched mosaic of alpine meadows, spruce forests and glaciated peaks along the border between Kazakhstan and the far northwest of China.
Guests will visit artisan producers, restaurants and bodegas in the foothills of the Sierra de Gracia.
Ten years later, insurgents are still coming down out of the mountains from Pakistan and the Shah-i-Kot Valley, gathering at a shrine in the foothills and using the plain around Rahman Khel as a transit route to head to the fighting farther west.
On the five-day trip, you'll stay in the Berber village of Ouirgane in the foothills of the High Atlas to sample the Berbers' simple way of life, virtually unchanged for centuries, with farmers tending their orchards and fields, and goatherds watching over their charges in the hills.
In the foothills of the Black Mountains lies a small 15th-century farm, whose water comes from its own deep well, and whose 16 acres of fields are home to black Dexter cattle and organically grown vegetables and fruit.
12. Villa in the valley If you're looking for a lovely villa hideaway, Dar Idraren is a new contemporary four-bedroom property on an old farm estate in the Ourika Valley, in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, about an hour's drive from Marrakesh.
On Friday evening the Henley-on-Thames-born defender will line up for AS Trencin, who lead the Fortuna Liga, in the Slovakian Cup final against FK Senica at the Poprad Stadium in the foothills of the snow-capped Tatra mountains.
Mount Takao, situated 50km outside of Tokyo, is perhaps the easiest place to enjoy this tradition – just hop on a train from the city then take a cable car up to the top of the foothills to join the crowds of people keeping watch for the sun.
