The small city of Sitges parties big. The nightlife is thumping, the people are gorgeous and the annual Carnival festival is utterly epic. A countercultural touchstone, Sitges is lively and very LGBT friendly. Native food and beverage is sublime—you simply must sample the Malvasia wine, made from grapes descending from Ancient Greece. Don’t miss the Museu Romàntic "Can Llopis" or, if you’re in Sitges in October, the world-renowned Sitges Film Festival, a cinematic extravaganza of horror, sci-fi and fantasy.

Tossa del Mar has beautiful beaches—and tourists flock to them in summer, so make sure you have a reservation if you’re planning to visit in high season. Enjoy the seafront restaurants (and, of course, fresh-caught fish specialties) and many tapas bars in this charming Catalan town.

One of the most historic sites in Spain, Girona lies in northeast Catalonia, just 99 km (62 mi) from Barcelona. Founded by Romans, the city later was taken over by Moors and Franks before finally falling under the rule of Barcelona. Influenced by different cultures and religions, the city beckons visitors with beautiful architecture. The Old and New Town offer many opportunities to pleasurably get lost and observe local life and culture.

Cambrils has a well-deserved reputation as the culinary capital of the Costa Dorada. There is a veritable cornucopia of fresh local ingredients, ranging from fish and other seafood to the internationally acclaimed DO Siurana olive oil. Between the historic population center and the ports, life in Cambrils unfurls peacefully around beaches and promenades. Looking on as fishing boats glide into the harbor and discovering the Old Quarter are two of the many pleasures that await in this Catalan town.

Independent Black Forest locales dating back to medieval times, in 1971, Titisee and Neustadt (along with Rudenberg) banded together to form Titisee-Neustadt. (A few years later, nearby towns Langenordnach, Schwärzenbach and Waldau also joined the union.) Long known as a spa town, Titisee sits on the banks of the lake of the same name. Legend says the name came from Roman Emperor Titus, who was so taken by its beauty that he named it after himself. The area is great for hiking and winter sports.

You don't have to choose between visiting a cultural capital or a sunny Caribbean beach destination—San Juan is both. This city's architecture ranges from Spanish colonial to 20th-century Art Deco, while the new Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico presents Latin American and Caribbean artwork in state-of-the-art galleries.

Gurnee, midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, is probably best known as the home of Six Flags Amusement Park and the Gurnee Mills shopping outlet. Now Midwesterners looking for a little rest and relaxation can sample the town's top attraction, the KeyLime Cove hotel and water park, which also features a spa, shopping and six restaurants.