Greater Palm Springs is an oasis for art, culture, adventure and relaxation. Take in the views from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, before exploring exhibits at the Palm Springs Art Museum and its Architecture & Design Centre. Visit the Empire Polo Club, home of the Coachella Music & Arts Festival and Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Dozens of spas in Desert Hot Springs let you soak in the healing mineral waters that flow beneath the city.

Natural hot springs abound in the Coachella Valley. Over 80 “spatels” proliferated in the 1950s and '60s. Several have been restored to their mid-century retro-hip splendor. Escape to the desert and choose decadent desert dens from the venerable Two Bunch Palms to clothing-optional Living Waters.

Relax and sight-see in this southern Californian oasis. Located in the center of the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert is a vibrant city featuring top notch resorts, world class golfing, shopping, and entertainment that appeals to many types of consumers. Hike, bike or ride horseback through the desert trails. Or, soak in some culture with seasonal festivals, stylish art galleries, and a thriving music and nightlife scene.

Set in the picturesque Coachella Valley, Indio boasts spectacular panoramas with distant foothills, soft blue skies, and easy access to phenomenal golf courses and other outdoor activities. Known as the “City of Festivals”, Indio has annual festivals that celebrate Native American culture, hot air ballooning, art, and food. The Coachella Valley is home to golf-happy communities like Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, and La Quinta. A unique combination of year-round temperate weather, distinctive desert and mountain terrain, and exceptionally high maintenance standards rewards golfers with fantastic play experiences in and near Indio. The Indio golf menu, please: Heading the list of places to tee up are The Golf Club at Terra Lago, Eagle Falls Golf Course, Indio Golf Course, and Indian Palms Country Club. A fun family-oriented activity is the Shields Date Farm, a great educational experience where you can learn how dates are grown and sample a date shake. To learn more about the area, visit the Coachella Valley History Museum on Miles Avenue. If you like to wager, Indio is home to the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, which has 2,000 slots and video poker and 40 table games, including bingo. Popular Indio festivals include the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in February, The Coachella Valley Stagecoach Country Festival in April, and the Indio International Tamale Festival in December.

Centrally located near all of Southern California’s major cities, Temecula Valley is the region’s wine country — with 40+ wineries offering everything from tours and events to restaurants and early-morning hot air balloon flights featuring panoramic views. Visitors also enjoy a wide range of outdoor recreational activities; the largest casino in the state at Pechanga Resort Casino; and a historic Old Town featuring wooden boardwalks, artisanal shops and restaurants, and a bustling nightlife.

Spa-goers have flocked to Carlsbad since its mineral spring was discovered in the late 19th century. Today, you can visit the site of the original well, but you can do much more than just "taking the waters"—Carlsbad’s spas offer world-class services.

Oceanside is a seaside oasis of recreation and beautiful beaches. Centrally located between San Diego and Los Angeles, Oceanside is frequently referred to as “the hub of Southern California.” From here, it’s easy to access a variety of amusement parks and family activities such as Disneyland, Legoland, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. If you’re looking to educate as well as entertain, you won’t be disappointed. Take your kids to visit Mission San Luis Rey. Founded in 1798, Mission San Luis is often called “The King of Missions” and includes picnic grounds and a gift shop in addition to a museum. Also check out the California Surf Museum or the Oceanside Museum of Art. With more than six miles of frontal beach roads, Oceanside allows you to jog, bike or skate to your heart’s content. Bike the San Luis Rey River Biking trail or take part in private o group surf lessons from a local surf school. Get your sea legs on and check out one of the many boat rental companies for a trip out to sea you won’t soon forget – go deep sea fishing, diving or whale watching. For the golf lover, Oceanside is a veritable paradise! With six courses in or near Oceanside, you’re sure to find a public or private course to fit your game - try Oceanside Municipal Golf Course, Emerald Isle Golf Course or Pendleton Marine Golf Course.

Beyond its epic theme parks and perfect weather, Orange County is celebrated for outdoor dining, entertainment and beach-bound adventure. Treat yourself at South Coast Plaza for the finest in luxury shopping and superlative restaurants. Spend an afternoon aboard a whale watching cruise in Newport Harbour, or cast a reel from the Huntington Beach Pier. Stop to smell the flowers at the Sherman Library and Gardens, or explore Laguna’s vast variety of boutique shops along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Step away from the hustle and bustle into the secluded luxury of three alpine villages in one at Beaver Creek. At the foot of Beaver Creek Mountain, the unique village-to-village ski system and ski-in/ski-out accommodation of Beaver Creek Village and neighbouring Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead Villages make it almost unnecessary to remove your skis! The mountain offers groomed slopes and world class competitions, including the Birds of Prey World Cup, as well as an array of summer activities.

As Baja California Sur’s capital, La Paz is mostly used as a jumping-off point for Cabo San Lucas’ beach resorts. However, its old-world charm and pleasant waterfront promenade featuring international art and restaurants overlooking the grey whale–inhabited water are reasons worth sticking around.

The inland city of Guadalajara is bursting with history and culture. Many attractions are in the city's historic centre and in the neighbouring city of Zapopan. Museums, parks and churches flourish alongside bullfights, rodeos and ‘futbol’. Nearby are the towns of Tequila, where the drink of the same name is produced, and Tlaquepaque and Tonala, where Mexican artisans create an abundance of craft items. Mariachi, which originated in the area, is a common sight and sound in Guadalajara.

Charming Mackinac Island is a throwback to old-timey seaside leisure, from the candy-colored facades of downtown shops to the impressive (record-breaking, in fact) front porch of the Victorian-era Grand Hotel. Mackinac is world-famous for its homemade fudge, available in every flavor you can imagine. Work off your sugar high with a round of golf, a bike ride along a seaside trail, or exploring the limestone bluffs of Mackinac Island State Park.

Steel and coal may have built this city, and you'll see the names "Mellon" and "Carnegie" on an awful lot of things, but Pittsburgh has come a long way from its gritty, industrial past. The Waterfront Complex, a collection of shops, restaurants, a cinema and even a water park, was recently built on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Works, and two new professional sports stadiums have opened downtown in just the past two years. However, history buffs will delight in a visit to sites like the Point State Park (home of the Fort Pitt Museum) and the Duquesne Incline, where you can ride an antique cable car and browse displays about this unique form of transport. If you don't mind the extra drive, a trip to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater makes a rewarding detour.

Atlantic City draws tourists by the car- and bus-load, topping more than 20 million visitors per year! Stroll along the famous Boardwalk with its numerous amusements and eateries or visit the historic Absecon Lighthouse and the new Wheel at Steel Pier. Several championship golf courses are within a 30 minute drive to attract golf enthusiasts. In summer, the local free beaches are popular with families. Beach bars are peppered throughout the resort and you can dig your toes in the sand and enjoy your favourite cocktails. Water-based activities include parasailing, charter fishing and dolphin-watching cruises. Casino hoppers have 9 establishments to choose from and there is something for everyone's taste. Those who remember Atlantic City in its pre-gambling days can wax nostalgic with a taste of saltwater taffy and iconic rolling chairs which have been Atlantic City favourites for over 100 years.

Cayo Coco, an island just north of mainland Cuba, has some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches—think superfine white sand and shallow, clear water. It’s popular with European travelers seeking a sunny escape at one of the island’s beach-side resorts. Snorkeling and diving are fantastic.

There's more than one way to enjoy the spa experience in St. Lucia. One is to book a treatment at any of the luxury spas or resorts on the island. The other is to visit Sulphur Springs, inside the bowl of an extinct volcano, where you're welcome to try a volcanic mud bath or the 31°C/88°F Roman bath.

The relatively small island of Bora Bora is an activity giant, offering visitors the chance to experience a 4x4 safari, sunbathe and swim at white sandy beaches, dive in a natural underwater park among fish and corals, experience thrilling shark feedings, or circle the turquoise lagoon by boat. And Bora Bora is a superlative romantic spot. Fall captive to this lush gem of a Polynesian island by sharing an intimate midnight dinner on the beach; visiting the Lagoonarium, the Diving Centre, the Coral Gardens or the Leopard Rays Trench; or taking it all in from the lofty heights of 2,300-foot Mount Otemanu.