U.S. citizens still need to jump through a few hoops to visit Cuba, but as visitors from around the world know, this island offers some amazing opportunities for cultural exchange. Havana is a mix of old-world architecture and of-the-moment culture. Head out of the capital city to the small town of Trinidad to see more Spanish colonial architecture. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fantastic home base for a visit to the Valley of the Sugar Mills, a pocket of land that formerly served as the centre of Cuba’s sugar industry.

Travelers come to this small island north of mainland Cuba to bask in the sun, swim in sparkling blue water, and be pampered at an all-inclusive resort. To explore Cuban culture, you’ll need to go farther afield (this is a planned resort development; employees are bused in), but if you’re simply looking for a stress-free tropical break, Cayo Santa Maria might be perfect for you.

Boasting two of the nation's best beaches, Saint Petersburg has stunning sands, perfect whether you choose to soak up sun at Fort De Soto; swim, shell, fish or snorkel on Caladesi Island; or enjoy Clearwater's Pier 60 and unbeatable sunsets. Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and eight aquariums and zoos are nearby.

Featuring white-sand beaches, volcanic peaks, and protected parks, along with some of the most impressive dive spots in the world, Guadeloupe is an island hopper’s paradise. This French archipelago is one of the Caribbean's best-kept secrets, offering a more relaxed alternative to its better-known neighbours.

The Berkshires are home to an impressive collection of cultural and historic sights. Get your fill of music, art and theatre at Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony's summer home, MASS MoCA, the country's largest contemporary art centre, the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Recreational opportunities also abound, including snowshoeing, snowboarding, skiing, rafting, kayaking, fishing and golf. The Berkshires are an easy drive, just two and a half hours from Boston and New York.

Mesa is a thriving metropolis in the southwest, with lifestyle and leisure pursuits in high demand by visitors. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, Mesa is a playground for outdoor recreation, with convenient access to three lakes, two rivers and endless hiking trails. The city’s downtown is a vibrant epicenter with boutiques, antique shops, museums, studios and cafes – all anchored by Mesa Arts Center. Mesa is home to a stunning collection of golf courses, superb dining and upscale shopping.

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.

Here’s your day in Calistoga: Yoga. Massage. Spa lunch. Hike. Wine-tasting. Facial. Mud bath. Gourmet dinner (with more wine). Dip in a mineral pool. Does it get more relaxing than a spa town built around natural springs in the middle of wine country? We don't think so.

Known for its restorative wonders, Bath was once the home of Jane Austen. Sure, you could attempt to conjure up this elegant city by reading Pride and Prejudice in your tub, but as Bath has a lot more history than your bathroom (we assume, anyway) you'd be missing out. A stroll through Bath is like visiting an open-air museum, with roughly 5,000 buildings in the city drawing notice for their architectural merit. After your stroll, soak in the natural hot waters of the Thermae Bath Spa, once a favourite of the Celts and Romans.