Made up of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, the laidback USVI offer sophisticated dining, turquoise waters and quaint towns. On St. Croix, Christiansted's colorful Danish Colonial buildings provide a lovely backdrop for dining or sailing. Underwater coral gardens are heaven for divers. On St. Thomas, shopping mecca Charlotte Amalie has hopping nightlife. Tranquil St. John offers quiet trails, secluded coves and lively Cruz Bay's shops and bars. Ferries and local air services link the islands.

The largest city in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a popular shopping center, home to 20,000 people, upscale shops, ecotours and underwater safaris. This former haunt of pirate ships now hosts millions of cruise passengers every year. Look beyond the boutiques and discover historic sights such as the bright red, 17th-century Fort Christian, the graceful green Legislature Building, the 1793 brick Lutheran Church and the taxing 99 steps stairway. Charlotte Amalie is easy to explore on foot.

Like all of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas has plenty of opportunities to lounge on the beach, splash in the sea, or amp it up with watersports. It also boasts a bountiful duty-free shopping scene – just be prepared to brave the cruise ship crowds. Charlotte Amalie swells with Danish colonial architecture and pirate legend. Shiver ye timbers at Blackbeard’s Castle, then work up an appetite by climbing the historic 99 Steps, constructed from the ballast bricks of 18th century Danish ships.

Ecotourism is alive and kicking on St. John. There's more than enough to do on land, from watching for wildlife in the national park to hiking miles of trails or strolling sandy white beaches. Hit the water for amazing snorkeling, swimming, even underwater photography—of course. This is the Caribbean, after all.

The glowing Mosquito Bay is a vision of bizarre beauty. Thanks to a bioluminescent microorganism, the water is a cool electric blue, looking somewhat like a fantastical sci-fi lagoon. Kayak or hop into a clear-bottomed pontoon boat to glide along the neon waters. Swimmers and snorkelers will adore the pristine, undeveloped beaches. Keep an eye out for the playful feral horses that gallop along the dunes, or visit the stately ceiba tree that’s been keeping watch over the highland for three centuries.

Sailing, diving, fishing and soaking up the sun on perfect beaches is what it's all about on the 60 idyllic British Virgin Islands. Largest island Tortola, home to capital Road Town, is a 12 by three mile haven of white sand, lush green mountains, ruins and rum distilleries. Underwater caverns beckon from dramatic Virgin Gorda. Island time rules on laid-back Jost Van Dyke, where swim-up bars serve delicious rum concoctions. Pristine beaches lure visitors to beautiful coral island Anegada.

Once an important center for sugar production, Puerto Rico's fourth largest city's current fortunes come from its factories. Intriguing nicknames for the city of nearly 200,000 include The Land of Giants and Arm Hackers Town. Situated on the island's north shore, this Atlantic city is considered part of the metropolitan San Juan area. Popular attractions include Carolina Beach, Casa Escute art gallery, Caribbean Raceway Park and Isla Verde Mall. To make the most of your visit, consider renting a car.

The capital of Grand Bahama Island, founded in 1955 as a center of tourism, has undergone recent redevelopment and again offers nearly every amenity an island visitor could hope for: pristine beaches, golf, water sports, diving, gambling, duty-free shopping, boating, nightclubs and fishing. Want more? Try the Pirates of the Bahamas theme park, Freeport's International Bazaar, Port Lucaya marketplace, Garden of the Groves botanical garden, the Rand Nature Center or Lucayan National Park.

La Fortuna de San Carlos is at the center of an array of geological wonder. The nearby Arenal is Costa Rica's most active volcano, routinely bursting with lava and ash, and the Catarata de La Fortuna is a waterfall pouring from a seventy-meter cliff. The Tabacon Hot Springs are a relaxing intermission in the midst of the various spectacles, and the Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat is a blissful end to any day's excursion.

Delaware's Dewey Beach is a spectacular sandbar community - on one side is Rehoboth bay, and on the other side there are the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Dewey Beach itself is a small town of less than 400 people, but it has become a popular tourist destination for anyone interested in water sports and beach vacations, and is the perfect spot for a relaxing family getaway. If you get tired of Dewey Beach, which is pretty much impossible, Cape May is only 30 miles down the road and Brandywine Zoo and the historic Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard are right around the corner.

Buffalo is being reborn as a mecca for art, architecture, history, culture, dining and entertainment. Experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning Darwin Martin House Complex and world-class modern art at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Relive part of the city’s incredible history at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. Explore the emerging Canalside waterfront district, hip Elmwood Village, more than 400 independently owned restaurants (serving our famous chicken wings and more) and nearby Niagara Falls.

Whether rocking out to music legends inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or viewing Monets and Picassos at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland is a city that mixes equal parts grit and sophistication. Nosh award-winning food in historic buildings, tip back some craft beers amid a Lake Erie beach party or cheer on a championship team with a hardball of locally distilled spirits. All in Cleveland.

Escape the urban bustle and make Jasper your home base for exploring Canada's extraordinary wilderness. As a mountain town, it's low-key and unpretentious with good food and drink; as a destination, it's an outdoor sports lover's playground, with hiking and golfing in summer and skiing and dog sledding in winter. If it's chilly, heat up at Miette Hot Springs in the National Park.

With miles of sandy coastline, it’s no surprise that Fuengirola is a major draw on Spain's Costa del Sol. But the resort town offers than just beaches—a Moorish castle, immersive bio-zoo, amusement parks, and retail zone provide entertainment for the whole family.

This Italian-speaking region in Southern Switzerland is on the border with Italy. Bellinzona is the capital, and Lugano is the most important city in the canton, known for its beautiful waterfront, steep hillsides and gorgeous lake views. Castelgrande is a lovely medieval castle overlooking the city that has recently been restored. The Centovalli Railway is a scenic train that operates between Locarno, Switzerland and Domodossola, Italy, traveling through the breathtaking "Hundred Valleys." Lake Como is nearby, the home of People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” George Clooney.