A mixture of urban chic and outdoor adventures, Spokane has something for everyone. Taste food by James-Beard-nominated chefs at Sante or The Wandering Table. Listen to live music at The Bartlett or the symphony at the iconic Martin Woldson Theatre at The Fox. Glide over the breathtaking Spokane Falls, situated right downtown, in the SkyRide, rated as one of the world’s best gondolas. Kids can feed the Garbage-Eating Goat or slide down the giant Radio Flyer Red Wagon in Riverfront Park.

It may be difficult to believe that a mere half century ago, the land beneath Page, Arizona and Lake Powell was a vast and bleak desert landscape. Carved out of the rocky terrain, Page sits atop Manson Mesa and overlooks the 186-mile long lake, the dramatic Glen Canyon Dam and the surrounding canyons, arches and historical Native ruins. A mild climate year-round makes Page the perfect central hub for visiting the Grand Circle sites, as well as the neighboring Navajo Nation, home to Window Rock.

Discover the best of Southern California culture. Offering the authentic surf lifestyle, coupled with 10 miles of uninterrupted coastline, Huntington Beach can truly be called Surf City USA. Warm weather and year-round sun offer the perfect setting for outdoor activities such as beach bonfires, volleyball by the Pier, biking along the Ocean Strand, stand-up paddle boarding in Huntington Harbour, hiking through the Bolsa Chica Wetlands or strolling down Main Street.

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.

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 holidays, 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.

The industrial city of Monterrey is reigned over by the mighty Cerro de Silla, a mountain that galvanizes adventurers with its steep hiking trails. Within the city, an 18th-century neighbourhood impresses with its architecture and harbours what’s hailed as Mexico’s most beautiful bookshop.

Akumal means "Place of the Turtle" in the Mayan language, and if you snorkel here, you just might see one swimming alongside you. (Don’t touch it, though. That’s prohibited by law.) You’ll definitely see coral and beautiful fish in the clear, sparkling waters. This tourist-friendly little town is about an hour south of Cancun—but it seems light-years away.