Private Beach Bungalows on Island Off Florida Coast

When Beach'n Place owner Rhonda Wyatt first came to Fort Myers Beach on business in 1994, she decided she had found paradise. The town is set on the 6-mile-long Estero Island, located just off Florida's mainland on the gulf side. Because the strip of land is no wider than a block in most parts, the beach is never more than a short walk away. Thought Wyatt was instantly taken with the sunny locale, it wasn't until 2004 that she made her dream a reality by purchasing the Island Hideaway resort, which includes the fully renovated Beach'n Place bungalows.

Set just a five-minute walk from the shore, Beach'n Place is comprised of seven cozy cottages. Each one-bedroom unit features a full kitchen stocked with appliances, dishes, and utensils. You can venture to nearby restaurants for dinner or stay close to home and have a cookout at one of the courtyard's barbecue grills.

The beach package included with this Getaway supplies everything you'll need for a day on the sand—towels, chairs, an umbrella, a cooler, and all the necessary sandcastle zoning permits. With a two-hour bike rental for two, also included, you can circumnavigate the entire island and explore the area at your own pace.

Fort Myers Beach, FL: Barrier Island Town with Wide, Sandy Beaches

Two bridges connect Estero Island to Florida's mainland, but you may find yourself opting to stay put. One of the biggest draws at Fort Myers Beach is its wide, sandy coastline, which is fronted by a boardwalk with tourist shops and restaurants. A popular way to take in the scenery is to board a kayak and paddle your way through Estero Bay's inlets to glimpse mangroves and dolphins.

At the southern tip of the island, Lovers Key State Park was historically accessible only via boat, but today you can also get there by car or tram. Keep your eyes peeled for the abundant wildlife in the region, home to West Indian manatees, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles.

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Spacious Rooms Overlooking St. Johns River

The St. Johns River—which neatly slices Jacksonville, Florida, down the middle—is one of the only rivers in America that flows north. Along its banks, the Jacksonville Landing has been attracting residents and visitors for more than 20 years with swanky shops, creative eateries, live-music clubs, and more than 300 special outdoor events held every year. The Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk occupies a prime spot directly across the river from the Landing and in the heart of the city's trendy San Marco entertainment district.

Each standard room in the hotel features contemporary and warm decor, with marigold-yellow walls and golden-hued linens. In the morning, you can head downstairs for a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast in the Wyndham's St. John's Café, then snooze peacefully in the sun while suspended in a hammock next to the outdoor pool.

Jacksonville, Florida: Sprawling City with Public Parks and Open Squares

Located in northern Florida 25 miles from the Georgia state line, Jacksonville has the distinction of being the largest city, area-wise, in the United States. This doesn't translate to vast expanses of pavement and canyons of skyscrapers, however. More than 80,000 acres of parkland lie within the city limits, surrounding visitors with lush landscaping and squirrel networking opportunities. A particularly nice park is Tree Hill Nature Center. Located five minutes from downtown, this green space is crisscrossed with 50 acres of trails leading through shady forests.

The neighborhood where the Wyndham is located, San Marco, is one of Jacksonville's oldest. Noted for its 1920s-era Mediterranean Revival homes—featuring balconies, terra-cotta tile roofs, and elaborate carvings—the area rewards sightseers with interesting architecture around every turn. As the sun goes down, head over to the San Marco Square, an open piazza surrounded by upscale restaurants and an old-fashioned movie theater.

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Party-Centric Hotel on Florida’s West Coast

On a typical weekend night at Bentley’s Resort Hotel, crowds gather around the Osprey Beach Pool for live music and cocktails. After a dance by the tiki bar, you can kick back on a couch under one of the poolside palapas. The pool deck is undoubtedly the heart of the hotel, but when the ocean calls, Bentley’s provides free transportation to some of the best beaches on Florida’s west coast, including Siesta Key—Dr. Beach's best beach of 2011—and Nokomis Beach on Casey Key.

The chef at the hotel's ultra-sleek restaurant, Morgan’s, uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create dishes such as grouper piccata. After a stunning sunset on the Gulf coast, the party shifts to the Jaguar Lounge and its adjacent Underground Nightclub, where DJs spin classic soul, top 40, and electronic dreidels. Like the restaurant and nightclub, accommodations at Bentley’s are modern and sleek. Bold artwork and modern fixtures adorn the Euro-chic rooms, each one named after a station on the London underground.

South Sarasota: Refuge for Endangered Birds and Artists

Just down the street from Bentley’s Resort Hotel, you’ll find the entrance to Oscar Scherer State Park, where stands of scrubby flatwood trees serve as a refuge for the threatened Florida scrub jay. Keep an eye out for its sapphire and cream plumage while biking or hiking through the park's trails or canoeing the blackwater South Creek (canoe rentals are available at the ranger station).

Bookstores and art venues are plentiful a few miles up the road in Sarasota, an enclave for artists, writers, and musicians. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall—a frequent host of Broadway and ballet shows—stands out as one of Sarasota's cultural hubs. The building’s exterior is entirely purple, and the deep ridges of its iconic modern roof turn lilac in the Florida sun.

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All-Inclusive Resort on the Caribbean Sea with Trapeze Lessons and Eclectic Dining

At Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach, "all-inclusive resort" means much more than unlimited dinners and mai tais. Right in between the beach and the resort, you can learn how to trapeze at an open-air training facility surrounded by netting. Head up to the trapeze platform for a free lesson, and you can see the Caribbean Sea stretch out for miles right next to the resort's private, 5,000-foot stretch of pristine golden beach lined with palapas below.

The trapeze lesson is one of many ways the resort goes beyond the typical all-inclusive experience. When you're not relaxing at the beach, the all-inclusive plan frees you up to try a scuba-diving lesson, take yoga classes, climb a rock wall in the gym, or take in some live entertainment.

The beachfront resort is spread out like a small village, lined with flagstone pathways, landscaped gardens, three pools, and a shady coral stone grotto. At night, you can stop by the discotheque and dance to spicy meringue music, or head to the theater to enjoy a live performance of musicals such as Moulin Rouge or Cabaret. As the night winds down, stop for a midnight snack at the 24-hour pizzeria.

Guests can enjoy unlimited food and drinks from five restaurants and four bars, including La Terraza, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot that serves an international buffet. You can get a nice view of the sunset on the waterfront patio of La Roca Grill, which serves tropical cocktails and fried calamari.

Beachfront bungalows are located steps from the ocean, so guests can fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves and the squeals of dolphins watching horror films.

Bayahibe, Dominican Republic: Renowned Scuba Diving with White-Sand Beaches

Bayahibe is situated on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. The former fishing village remained relatively untouched by tourism until the late 1990s, when it became known for its white-sand beaches and scuba-diving sites, but it still has a tucked-away feel.

For diving and snorkeling, it's worth it to take a trip to Saona Island, an uninhabited nature reserve located just off the mainland. Tour operators on catamarans and motorboats will drop you around the area's sandbars and shipwrecks, which overflow with brightly colored fish.

About 20 miles (32 km) from the hotel, the cobblestone streets of Altos de Chavon are lined with artists' studios, galleries, and quaint cafés. The European-inspired village is also home to a 5,000-seat amphitheater, which has featured headlining shows from legendary artists including Frank Sinatra and Shakira.

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Oceanside Resort Offering Recreation and Relaxation for Families

With elegant movements and precise timing, a trapeze performer dives from a platform, releases her grip on the bar, and twirls midair. Just as she begins to descend, the performer’s hand finds the bar again, prompting applause inside the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach's amphitheater. Weekly trapeze acts such as this one—as well as daily trapeze lessons for guests—provide nightly entertainment that complement the all-inclusive resort’s white sand beaches, outdoor pool, and tropical drinks.

Most nonmotorized watersports are among resort’s all-inclusive offerings, meaning families can captain small sailboats, steer windsurfing boards, or don snorkeling gear and head out to the ocean to network with local starfish. Away from the waves, families will find tennis, basketball, and beach volleyball courts as well as island music serving as the soundtrack to Bahamian dance lessons. Three onsite restaurants collectively offer both buffet and à la carte dining, from fine Italian fare to pan-Asian specialties. Poolside and beachfront bars serve cocktails, wine, and fresh fruit beneath thatched, palapa-style umbrellas.

Like the outdoor pool, each ocean-view room overlooks the Atlantic. Private balconies or terraces come furnished with wicker lounges, where families can comfortably enjoy views of the turquoise tides. Lemon, lime, and tangerine tones colorize the walls and linens within each retreat, giving interiors a fresh, citrusy vibe.

Freeport, Grand Bahama: Tropical Oasis Rich in Wildlife

Freeport is located on the southern coast of Grand Bahama island, home to three national parks and several beaches. Perched on a peninsula just outside Freeport, the Port Lucaya Marketplace hosts 80 stores selling Bahamian sundries and services. On the marketplace's west end, artisans craft jewelry, furniture, and souvenirs from dried palm fronds and wood.

Just a few minutes from the resort lies the tropical greenery at the Garden of the Groves, where you can visit its chapel, roam the hibiscus garden, and watch birds, turtles, and fish. Farther east, orchids and ming trees line trails and boardwalks in Lucayan National Park, a 40-acre tract that's also home to one of the world’s most extensive underwater cave systems.

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Historical Inn with Glass-Enclosed Porch Overlooking Lake

In the 19th century, some of the Northeast's industrial pioneers— including Silas March, an entrepreneur and New York state assemblyman—spent their idle days in a clapboard estate built along the shores of Mariaville. In 2003, husband-and-wife innkeepers Rick and Lorrie Runnels purchased this historical home and dubbed it the Mariaville Lake Bed and Breakfast. Since then, they've made extensive renovations while managing to preserve the building's casual, Federal-style elegance; it still has its original moldings, wood-burning fireplaces, and hardwood floors in some of the guest rooms.

The building is tucked into a woodsy area along the private, 200-acre Mariaville Lake, and it's a prime spot to get in some fishing and swimming. The B&B also owns two kayaks, one canoe, and one rowboat, which are all available for guests. Or feel free to take a stroll through the wealth of hiking trails that crisscross the property; one in particular leads to a beaver dam. In summer and fall, you can tell ghost stories and dry your laundry over a crackling bonfire in the evening.

The inn's five guest rooms are individually decorated, but all look out to Mariaville Lake. You have to use an old-fashioned skeleton key to get into the Vineyard and Lakeview rooms, as they are located in the original part of the house.

Come morning, the innkeepers serve a breakfast by candlelight in the formal dining room or on the glass-enclosed porch. The chefs prepare a different hot entree each morning, such as banana-stuffed french toast, veggie frittatas, or puffed apple pancakes. You can typically find house-made pastries, fresh juices, yogurt, fresh fruit, coffee, and tea.

Mariaville, New York: Small Town on the Shores of Mariaville Lake

Mariaville is part of the 18th century town of Duanesburg, located about 30 miles west of Albany. Thanks to its location along the 200-acre Mariaville Lake, the town became a resort community in the 1920s. Not a whole lot has changed since then; there's still only one traffic light in the city to date, and every high-school class is taught by the mayor.

The town of Schenectady offers a dose of culture fewer than 15 miles east. Aside from shopping and restaurants, you can find the historical Proctors Theater, which opened as a vaudeville venue in the early 20th century but sank into disrepair by the late 1970s. A group of concerned citizens rallied to restore the theater, which now hosts regular performances of ballets, musicals, comedians, and concerts.

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AAA Four Diamond Hotel South of Vegas Strip

Fewer than 10 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip, the Mediterranean-inspired Green Valley Ranch- Las Vegas cuts an imposing figure, with Spanish-style architecture, tiled roofs, and a recessed driveway lined with towering palms. You don’t have to worry about transportation to the city’s main corridor, thanks to a complimentary shuttle that runs back and forth from the strip four times a day. But there's a lot to do right here—the sprawling Green Valley Ranch- Las Vegas encompasses restaurants, pools, a casino, and a movie theater.

In the upscale casino, exposed stone columns support towering arches and a vaulted ceiling. Gamers have the run of the place, which offers 2,200 slot and video-poker games, a poker room, race and sports book areas, and more than 55 table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette. Spend your winnings at one of eight onsite restaurants, including Hank's Fine Steaks & Martinis, known for its selection of aged meats, and Terra Verde, a cozy Italian eatery with house-made pasta dishes and an extensive wine list. Getaway holders can use their resort credit at the onsite spa for services such as massages, facials, and mani-pedis.

Green Valley Ranch- Las Vegas's outdoor recreation area stretches across more than 8 acres outfitted with manicured lawns, private cabanas, and infinity-edge dipping pools. Head to the Pond, the resort’s private pool and lounge, to see and be seen during pool-party season. Come nightfall, you can catch a live band at Ovation or slip into Drop Bar for a nightcap.

Greater Las Vegas: Shops and Restaurants Off the Strip

The town of Henderson is conveniently close to Las Vegas, but it's also far enough to be an escape from the bustle of the strip. Next to Green Valley Ranch- Las Vegas sits The District, a pedestrian-friendly promenade lined with boutiques and restaurants. On Friday and Saturday nights from May through October, enjoy live music as you stroll the plaza.

To head to the Strip, hop onto the resort's free shuttle, which drops riders off at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. If you're tired of gambling, check out one of the long-running shows, such as Cirque du Soleil's Love, an acrobatic and visually stunning homage to the Beatles.

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Historic B & B with Park Views and Fine Southern Cuisine

Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region is the textbook image of idyllic farmland—a landscape of rolling hills divided by rail fences into orchards, wineries, and horse pastures. In 1926, the Cleveland Orphanage Institution decided it was the perfect setting for educating children. They rebuilt the Cleveland Home as a Dutch Colonial Revival building, providing plenty of room for kids to run around. Today, it’s become The Woodford Inn, a stately, red brick structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bruce and Linda Parker, two restaurateurs-turned-innkeepers, keep the place as welcoming as ever with warm hospitality and home-cooked southern fare.

The onsite Addie’s Restaurant and Bar is named after Linda’s mother, who used to prepare her family’s large Sunday dinners. The restaurant serves local specialties such as the Hot Brown sandwich ($12) with roast turkey and country ham in cheesy mornay sauce. An equally hearty breakfast often includes pancakes, bacon, and omelets, all served from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. You can dine inside, where paintings of racehorses line the walls, or head out to the patio, which is flanked by grassy lawns and conifers. There’s also a front porch, outfitted in classic southern fashion with rocking chairs and hanging ferns.

Inside, many of the inn's 10 guest rooms overlook the neighboring Woodford County Park. Though no two rooms are identical, all boast Tempur-Pedic mattresses, ornately carved headboards, and jacuzzi tubs. Room 3’s two-person tub makes it a good fit for couples.

Versailles, Kentucky: Bluegrass Country Along Bourbon Trail

The town of Versailles was named after the site of Louis XIV's gilded palace in France, yet the two places share little in common. The American version is located along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a string of famous distilleries including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and Wild Turkey. The region is also home to some of the most successful racehorse breeders in the world, whose ponies have gone on to win the Triple Crown and star in the doodles of 12-year-old girls all over the world.

Half an hour east, Lexington has many equine-related attractions of its own, including the Kentucky Horse Park and the Keeneland Race Track, a beautiful course that dates to 1935 and is known for its horse auctions. Nearby, the Mary Todd Lincoln House is filled with rooms made to look much like the ones lived in by Abraham Lincoln’s First Lady.

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New Boutique Hotel Steps from Michigan Avenue

Located one block east of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, Ivy Boutique Hotel opens in May 2012 as the newest work from Arthur Minor, who designed The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. With swanky amenities including mirror televisions and theater surround sound in all guest rooms, the hotel seems poised to become one of the city’s most exclusive hotels. Although the Ivy rises up 15 stories, there are only five guest rooms per floor, providing guests with a mixture of intimacy and comfort that makes it “the only true boutique luxury hotel in the city,” according to HotelChatter.

After guests check in via iPad, hotel staff members personally escort them to 675-square-foot king suites. A paragon of modern design, the suites contain platform beds with white leather headboards and floor-to-ceiling windows that open. Eco-friendly bamboo flooring, along with organic towels and rugs made from thistle, help to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint. Guests can watch the flat-screen TV set in the vanity mirror while getting ready in the morning or practice Tarzan-style affirmation chants in the rainforest shower.

The Ivy is also in the process of opening an intimate 30- to 40-person restaurant and bar on the first floor. "We will try to use as much organic produce as possible," manager James Cazares says of his upcoming, reservations-only hot spot. A rooftop lounge opening in June will offer picture-perfect views of the city.

Gold Coast, Chicago: Ritzy Residential Neighborhood with Historical Mansions and Hip Restaurants

Located north of downtown, Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood hugs the shore of Lake Michigan, occupying some of the city's most desirable real estate. Its reputation as an upscale residential spot dates back to 1882, when wealthy businessmen began building castle-like mansions along the waterfront. For a glimpse at these historical estates, head to the Seven Houses on Lake Shore Drive District, where you'll find a French-chateau-inspired mansion that now serves as the International Museum of Surgical Science. A walk down Astor Street reveals some of the city's most unique architecture, including the Charnley-Persky House built by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright in 1892.

Those looking for a hip nightlife will find trendy restaurants and nightclubs—many of which are open until 5 a.m.—catering to a well-dressed crowd. For people watching and the occasional celebrity sighting, head to Rush and Division, a see-and-be-seen spot dotted with upscale shops, classic Chicago bars, and diamond-encrusted parking meters.

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Bayside B & B with Jacuzzi at End of Private Dock

Along Florida's panhandle is a shoreline that is often called the Forgotten Coast. The beaches here have escaped any heavy development; instead, you’ll get a glimpse of what old Florida was like, with soaring pines, saw palmettos, and snow-white dunes.

At the heart of the Forgotten Coast, the St. Joseph Peninsula stretches into the Gulf of Mexico. Cape San Blas Inn is situated on this narrow finger of land, which separates St. Joseph Bay from the open gulf. The inn stands just 200 yards from the beach on the opposite coast.

In the back of the inn, you can peer out to the water from bay windows and screened-in porches. A wooden boardwalk leads toward the water, where you’ll find a dock extending into the bay. You can borrow one of the inn’s complimentary canoes here, or paddle to the end of the pier, where there’s a hot tub situated right on the waterfront.

Inside, no two guest rooms are exactly alike, but all include Sleep Number beds and prints of tropical beaches hanging on the walls. The Turtle Shell suite is the largest room, with a tile-framed fireplace beside french doors that lead onto a private patio.

In the morning, the inn lays out a spread of Starbucks-brand coffee with dishes such as quiche or french toast. Feel free to eat in the large, airy dining room, or carry your plate out to the veranda to watch starfish try to form constellations.

Port St. Joe, Florida: Beachfront Parks and Coastal Towns

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is one of the prettiest local beaches. It overlooks both the bay and the shores of the gulf around the secluded eastern tip of the peninsula. All over the beachfront dunes you’ll see sand pine scrub, and migrating falcons visit the 1,900-acre wilderness reserve every fall. The Cape San Blas connects the peninsula with the mainland. It features a lighthouse that has been rebuilt no fewer than four times.

Head inland to the town of Port St. Joe, which has seafood restaurants and charter cruises, or travel farther east to Apalachicola, a city named for a Native American tribe and often translated as "land of the friendly people." The city is lined with 19th-century architecture, including the Orman House and Raney House. Both of these Greek Revivalist–style mansions were built by cotton magnates. If it’s getting hot outside, head to the John Gorrie Museum—the former home of the man who pioneered air conditioning.

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Spacious Villas near Three PGA Golf Club Courses

The links-style Dye course at PGA Village contains many flourishes characteristic of its designer, World Golf Hall of Famer Pete Dye. He throws in a scare right at the start, planting the tee box on hole 1 so it overlooks an intimidating sea of coquina waste bunkers and pine-straw roughs. But the rest of course is less threatening, with spacious landing areas and picturesque natural scenery from the surrounding Big Mamu Wetlands. And it's just one of three championship courses in the backyard of Florida's Perfect Drive Golf Villas, a resort designed to accommodate golfers’ needs.

Like a home away from home, spacious one- and two-bedroom villas include full kitchens, private screened porches, and laundry rooms. Stay in a Pine Valley villa to wake up within walking distance of the PGA Golf Club and to relax in whirlpool bathtubs after a round. Alternatively, Castle Pines villas are located within a gated community with picnic areas and three heated, lagoon-style swimming pools.

Perfect Drive also has its own short golf course with six holes for warming up for the PGA Golf Club's courses or settling ties afterwards without the perils of a 9-iron duel.

Port St. Lucie, Florida: Oceanfront Nature Preserves and World-Class Golf

Located near the Atlantic coast about 100 miles north of Miami, Port St. Lucie’s white-sand beaches offer a more laid-back alternative to nearby Palm Beach. Explore the area’s thousands of acres of parks and nature preserves, including Indian River Lagoon’s marshes and mangroves. About 20 minutes away in Fort Pierce, the Savannas Recreation Area evokes the Florida Everglades with five distinct biological communities, from wet prairies to pine flat woods.

Aside from ecotourism, Port St. Lucie’s main draw is golfing at PGA Village. Hailed as one of the 75 Best Golf Resorts in North America by Golf Digest , the resort features courses mapped out by legends Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. Its onsite practice facility with bunkers simulates famous golf courses from around the world, including Pebble Beach and Doral's Blue Monster.

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Mod Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Little Italy

The scent of freshly baked pizza seems to permeate the air in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, its streets dotted with red-and-white-striped restaurants. Crowds file in and out of the area's quaint shops, stopping in between to grab a quick cup of espresso at one of the cafés on India Street. Steps away from the vibrant shops, the stucco Porto Vista Hotel channels a fun, throwback vibe Frommer's calls "retro-Italian cool."

Upon your arrival, bartenders whip up two complimentary welcome drinks, drawing from ginger and elderflower essences as well as house-infused bacon vodka. Upstairs, cozy queen rooms are dominated by a floor-to-ceiling, '60s-style photograph taken by a local San Diego artist. The oversize image overlooks cushy pillow-top beds wrapped in crisp, white linens. Guests can snare wild frisbees from their window, which peers toward the glistening bay.

On the fourth floor of the Porto Vista, chefs at the Glass Door restaurant use local and seasonal ingredients to concoct inventive dishes such as duck-fat fries and prosciutto-seared salmon, which are served at communal tables amid wrought-iron lanterns and wall-to-wall waterfront views. Elsewhere, you can unwind at a rooftop sunset yoga class, get styled in the attached Evolve Salon, or explore the happening neighborhood just outside the Porto Vista's front doors.

San Diego: Foodie Heaven with Vibrant Neighborhoods

Little Italy's historical streets bustle with tourists and locals alike, who come especially for the good eats. Handmade gelato and golden pizza pies fill the storefronts of classic, Italian-style eateries. One dessert café, run by a Paris-trained pastry chef, regularly sees lines forming down the block in the early morning as diners stock up on flaky, buttery croissants and scones.

Less than a mile from the hotel, the massive USS Midway Museum lets visitors wander through a Navy aircraft carrier and immerse themselves in life on the high seas. To observe San Diego's funky neighborhoods up close, you can shadow a local mailman or rent electric bikes for full- or half-day adventures. Some of the most popular destinations within biking distance include SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, one of only four American zoos with giant pandas on display.

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Log-Cabin-Style Lodge with Paul Bunyan–Themed Water Park

Though much has been made of Paul Bunyan's mythical feats, little ink has been spilled on his favorite pastime—water parks. The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes, located near Bunyan's alleged hometown, has irrefutable proof of not only the lumberjack's existence, but his love of lazy rivers: the words “Paul Bunyan was here” are carved into a tree at the lodge's water park. Nearby, a bust of Babe the Blue Ox overlooks a floating bridge made of tree stumps Bunyan once used as toothpicks.

The log-cabin-style hotel fits nicely within the woodsy Brainerd Lakes area. In the lobby, an antler chandelier shines down on a stone fireplace and leather couches. Standard rooms also feature rustic appointments, including the beds and nightstands made from carved logs. The hotel's water park and arcade are undoubtedly geared towards kids, but grownups can get their kicks at The Lodge Grill & Bar, which serves Kansas City dry-aged steaks to go with a roster of beer and wine.

Baxter, Minnesota: Rural Town in the Land of Lakes

About two hours northwest of the Twin Cities, the small town of Baxter is nestled among more than 500 lakes stamped out by Paul Bunyan on his pogo stick. You’ll have arrived in nearby Brainerd when you see the 112-foot-tall fiberglass lumberjack along Highway 371. Brainerd is the starting point of the 100-mile Paul Bunyan Trail, a haven for bikers and hikers in the warmer months. There are numerous picnic and campsites along the trails, in addition to shimmering lakes that serve as reservoirs for Bunyan's contact solution.

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French Quarter–Inspired Inn with Onsite Restaurant

Though it’s in the heart of Texas Hill Country, Crescent Quarters channels New Orleans, the Crescent City, in both name and design. The hotel exudes French Quarter charm, from its wrought-iron balconies to the hanging planters and gas lanterns. N’awlins also inspired some of the guest rooms, including one decorated with the famous Blue Dog paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue and another furnished in festive Mardi Gras purples and golds.

The rest of the rooms and suites carry out much different motifs. The Far East room features Buddhist images against bamboo-covered walls, and the French room channels continental elegance with a fireplace, French boudoir, and life-size cardboard cutout of Napoleon Bonaparte. Some rooms come with other chic touches such as granite vanities and polished hardwood floors, and the two suites come furnished with hot tubs.

Complimentary breakfast is served every morning in the common room. For lunch and dinner, head to the in-house restaurant, Cypress Grille and Wine Bar, run by chefs who trained at the Culinary Institute of America and Le Cordon Bleu. The casual eatery serves comfort-food favorites with creative twists, such as dried-fruit ravioli and smoked barbecue pork sandwiches with grilled pineapple. As a bonus, Cypress Grille and Wine Bar will give Groupon customers a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entree.

Boerne, Texas: Historic German Town in Texas Hill Country

A popular summer escape for Austinites and San Antonians, the Hill Country of west-central Texas usually enjoys cooler temperatures than surrounding areas thanks to its higher elevation. Among the region’s towns, Boerne stands out for its unique history as an early 19th-century German settlement. Some vestiges of the old days are still around, including the bilingual, German-style street signs. Crescent Quarters overlooks Boerne's Main Street—or Hauptstrasse—which features a smattering of shops and restaurants that cater to the influx of out-of-towners that use the town as a convenient home base for exploring the Hill Country.

Boerne is also home to a few limestone caves that have been paved through with walkways and lights for public tours. Cascade Caverns, 4 miles from the inn, features a half-mile stretch of stalactite and stalagmite formations and plunging caves inhabited by a rare and endangered salamander. Tours of the caverns lead through narrow passageways and end with a view of a 100-foot waterfall cascading into a pitch-black pool.

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Cliffside Resort Overlooking the Pacific

From afar, the sun-baked clay and steppe-style façade of Capella Ixtapa Resort & Spa looks like it was carved out of the cliff face at water's edge. Up close, the resort still feels like an extension of its surroundings. Hardwood beams and thatched palapa roofs blend seamlessly with lush palmettos, cacti, and exotic flowers. Infinity pools appear to spill out onto the crashing waters of the Pacific Ocean. The setting and rustic architecture are equally striking; it's no surprise that Capella Ixtapa Resort & Spa was designated as Mexico's Leading Resort by the World Travel Awards in 2010 and is nominated again this year.

Inside the suites, you can soak up warm breezes from a private terrace or cool off in your own infinity plunge pool. Forbes Life described the contemporary rooms as "flat-out mesmerizing." It might take superhuman willpower to step away from your oceanfront lookout, but there's plenty to explore throughout the property. At the spa, an earthy-chic ambiance soothes the senses and whales off the coast perform Sade's greatest hits during outdoor massages.

Cast-iron wall sculptures add a touch of the avant-garde to the dining room at A Mares Restaurant, where inventive chefs push the boundaries of classic Mexican cuisine. A Mares serves dinner only, but the poolside Las Rocas Restaurant offers icy margaritas and shrimp cocktail throughout the day. If you're game for an adventure, you can book a horseback ride on the shores of Playa Larga, charter a deep-sea fishing boat, or snorkel around nearby coral reefs.

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico: Resort Area Near Fishing Town

A popular resort area, Ixtapa lies along the Pacific Ocean on Mexico's southwest coast, in the strip of land known as Costa Grande. Its geography is marked by white-sands beaches and the crystal waters draw kayakers, snorkelers, and sport fishermen year-round.

About a 20-minute drive south along the coast, the quiet fishing town of Zihuatanejo offers a quiet alternative to the relative bustle of Ixtapa. Anyone who's seen an hourly cable broadcast of The Shawshank Redemption might recall that the Tim Robbins character dreams of living as a fisherman in Zihuatanejo. There are plenty of secluded spots to live out his dream along the Paseo del Pescador. Along the more lively fisherman's boardwalk, shops are stocked with Cuban cigars, handmade jewelry, and local tequila. There's usually a musician or two walking the stone streets, eager to serenade passersby with a romantic rendition of The Price is Right theme.

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Sumptuous Accommodations amid Mountain Terrain

The Resort at Squaw Creek's golf course looks out over lush prairies and mountainsides covered in pine trees. It’s a gorgeous scene in sunny weather, but summer is technically off-season here. In the distance, you can see the six peaks of Squaw Valley USA, a sort of Shangri-La that served as the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. When the landscape is blanketed with snow, the mountains are dotted with skiers and snowboarders. The golf course is transformed for the season into the Nordic Center, leaving it crisscrossed with tracks left by dogsleds, cross-country skis, and snowshoes.

Whatever the season, The Resort at Squaw Creek serves as a convenient home base from which to enjoy the outdoors; it’s tucked into the Sierra Nevada on Lake Tahoe's north shore. Hiking trails wind through the property, and on hand you’ll find a private outdoor ice rink and an onsite fly-fishing center. Guests can also feel free to stop by the outdoor pool complex's plunge pool and 120-foot water slide and choreograph water ballets in its heated lap pool and three hot tubs.

Six Peaks Grille, one of the resort’s four dining venues, serves up breakfasts of fresh fruit, lox, and a goldmine of pastries kept warm in white linens. The breakfast buffet allows you to load up on made-to-order omelets, bacon, french toast, and pancakes.

The resort’s 405 rooms and suites underwent a $53 million renovation in recent years. The deluxe forest-view room has a marble shower and a grand picture window that overlooks Tahoe National Forest. In fact, the entire guest tower—where all the rooms are located—is sheathed in lustrous black glass to maximize views of the valley.

Squaw Valley USA: Hiking and Cycling Through Mountains on Lake Tahoe's North Shore

Located about a 15-minute drive from North Lake Tahoe, Squaw Creek is situated amid some of northern California's most revered scenery and varied terrain. The resort rents out bicycles by the hour, including Marin cruisers for adults, Trek mountain bikes for kids, and tagalong carts for infants and beloved pet rocks. Use these to hop on Truckee River Trail, a gently rolling, paved path that follows a crystal-clear river 7 miles to Tahoe City. There, you’ll happen upon a paved trail with views of the Lake of the Sky and access to Tahoe Vista's beaches 10 miles to the north.

Lupine and buckwheat paint the mountainside, and the High Camp here is a nice jumping-off point to hike on some dry, pebbly trails. If you’re unaccustomed to the high altitude, you may find yourself easily winded on even short hikes; still, the 1.5-mile jaunt uphill to Emigrant Peak is worth the trip, as you get 360-degree views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.

Quaint clapboard buildings housing shops and restaurants line the Village at Squaw Valley. One of these is PlumpJack Cafe, the brainchild of former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. In a dimly lit dining room, the restaurant serves seasonal contemporary fare such as the inventive ceviche cone, a feuille de brick cone filled with tuna, avocado, and ginger and topped with chili threads ($15).

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Historical Civil War–Era Hotel on Georgetown's Circle

In 1836, a large brick structure was built in Georgetown, Delaware, on the town's circle, and it was soon converted into The Union Hotel. When the Civil War broke out, Union supporters co-opted the hotel as their unofficial clubhouse and would gather there before taking to the street to brawl with Confederate sympathizers. In the years since, the building also served as a county courthouse, a post office, and a bank before it was fully restored and reopened in 2008 as Brick Hotel On The Circle.

Each of the 14 guest rooms at Brick Hotel is furnished individually with antiques, such as period bedsteads and old-fashioned clocks. The Lazy Daisy features daisy stained-glass wall art, and the Mayor's Manor—a tongue-in-cheek nod to the innkeeper's short stint as Georgetown's mayor—incorporates a pineapple motif as a symbol of hospitality and a celebration of prickly fruit. In the original section of the hotel, a few of the rooms, including the Baker, offer views of the circle and a small fireplace.

After settling in, head downstairs to Brick Hotel's in-house tavern and restaurant, where you can enjoy a cold ale served with seared scallops or Maryland crab cakes.

Georgetown, Delaware: Charming Colonial-Era Town

Located in southern Delaware, across the Delaware Bay from New Jersey, Georgetown was laid out in a mile-diameter circle in 1791, starting with the town square. Historical buildings abound—opposite the Brick Hotel On The Circle is the stately white tower of the Sussex County Courthouse, and there are several more notable buildings within a short walk from the hotel. Downtown Georgetown is lined with shops and churches, including the 1794 St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

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Modern B&B in the Heart of Ohio Amish Country

Holmes County, Ohio, is home to the world's largest Amish community, a culture that eschews modern technology in search of a simpler lifestyle. Consequently, the region feels even more separate from city life than other rural areas, a trait that makes it especially attractive to some. The Inn at Honey Run embraces this ethos while still offering an onsite spa, an upscale restaurant, and other comforts you'd expect from a luxury boutique hotel.

The Inn at Honey Run's aesthetic is a far cry from the earthy farmhouses just a few miles away. Bucolic yet refined decor covers both the lobby and the guest rooms with wreaths of sinewy dried vines and local artwork made of wrought iron and polished wood. Several Select rooms occupy upper floors, where treetops are visible through reading nooks' skylights. Alternatively, Honeycomb rooms are built into a hillside and come with a secluded outdoor patio.

Every morning, guests gather at Tarragon, the Inn's upscale yet casual restaurant, for a continental breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt, and house-made muffins and pastries. For lunch and dinner, Executive Chef Scott Fetty draws on his training and uses seasonal, local ingredients to craft upscale American cuisine.

At the onsite Spa at Honey Run, sip on flowering tea before a massage, facial treatment, or body treatment that uses 100% organic oils and scrubs. The hiking trails that crisscross the property are another source of relaxation, passing through meadows and forests and along burbling brooks. For an additional fee of $125, the inn will arrange an authentic Amish-country buggy ride around the surrounding hills.

Holmes County, OH: Bucolic Farmland Rich in Amish Tradition

Located about 80 miles south of Cleveland, Holmes County's rolling countryside is rife with farms and stores, as well as a few tourist attractions. See the Amish lifestyle up close at The Farm at Walnut Creek, which also houses exotic creatures such as giraffes, camels, and kangaroos alongside regional animals like cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. The Holmes County Trail follows 29 miles of former railroad lines, from nearby Killbuck to Fredericksburg, with 15 paved miles accommodating Amish buggies and bicycles.

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Family-Friendly Resort with Comfortable Suites

Lined with water parks, dinner theaters, and quirky museums, the Strip in downtown Branson is one of America’s most decorated streets. Officially known as Highway 76, the family-friendly road became a tourist spot in the early 1960s, when several country-music concerts and comedy shows turned it into an entertainment destination. With more than 100 venues added since, Branson has earned its "live-entertainment capital of the world" moniker by hosting shows ranging from Chinese circuses to the comedy of Yakov Smirnoff to country jubilees. Located a few miles south, The Suites at Fall Creek makes for a convenient home base to explore the town, offering a family-friendly environment with indoor and outdoor pools and a bustling activities center.

The resort's guest rooms have been decorated in traditional country style with wood furnishings and cozy carpets. At 900 square feet, the one-bedroom suites add full kitchens and screened-in porches. Guests can also fix meals in the studio rooms’ partial kitchens. Take a stroll along the property's narrow walking paths for glimpses of manmade ponds and manicured gardens.

Branson: Waterfront Entertainment District with Country-Music History

Located in the heart of the Ozarks and nestled next to Table Rock Lake, Branson is just as famous for its entertainment attractions as its picturesque setting. On any given night, you can find country-music tribute shows and live dinner performances lighting up Highway 76. The six-brother musical troupe known simply as Six performs its award-winning a cappella concert most days from March through November.

Fishing remains one of Branson’s most popular activities. Perched at the foot of old Main Street, Lake Taneycomo’s clear, cold waters make it an ideal habitat for trout. Ten minutes from the hotel, Table Rock Lake offers some of the country’s best bass fishing among forests of oak and hickory trees.

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Family-Friendly Lodgings in Downtown Jefferson City

Just steps from Capitol Plaza Hotel, the Missouri State Capitol Building resembles an ancient Roman basilica. Ornately carved 40-foot columns mark its entrance, and a statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain and agriculture, tops its massive white dome. Ceres is a fitting figure to overlook Jefferson City, which began as several gristmills along the Missouri River. A stay at Capitol Plaza Hotel puts visitors in the heart of historical downtown Jefferson City and a stone's throw from the area’s nature trails, prime fishing locales, and rolling prairies.

The guest rooms and executive suites offer wireless Internet and cable TV amid warm hues and simple decor. In the two-room executive suite, there's an additional sleeper sofa. For dinner, feel free to lounge in your room and enjoy an artisan pizza from the onsite Plaza Pizzeria, or head down for a light meal and a cocktail at the Fountain Court Lounge before unwinding in the hotel's indoor heated pool and hot tub.

Jefferson City, Missouri: Rich History and German Heritage on the Missouri River

Many postcards of downtown Jefferson City spotlight its domed Capitol Building and the Missouri River, the two landmarks that reflect the Missouri capital’s historical and natural spirit. Perched on a bluff that Lewis and Clark crossed under during their historical afternoon beer run, the Capitol Building embraces Missouri's history through its three-wall mural, Thomas Hart Benton’s A Social History of Missouri. Located on the third floor of the Capitol, the mural tells the story of Missouri’s pioneer days up to the rise of St. Louis and Kansas City.

On Jefferson City’s south side, the neighborhood of Old Munichburg conveys a distinctly German feel through its historical churches, Bavarian-style brick buildings, and pubs that serve schnitzel and other traditional dishes. Steps from Old Munichburg, the Missouri River draws visitors looking to canoe or catch catfish. Near the boat-access point, signs indicate how far other cities are down the river, from Rocheport (43 miles) to Three Forks, Montana (2,197 miles). Another popular spot for fishing is nearby Binder Lake, which is filled with bass and bluegill.

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Self-Drive Tour of New Zealand and Fiji Island Escape

Though the islands of Oceania sit half a world away, they’ve captivated many North American travelers with lush flora, unique geography, and exotic indigenous wildlife. The islands’ diverse landscape ranges from New Zealand’s glaciers, volcanoes, and bubbling mud springs to the white-sand beaches along Fiji’s turquoise waters. With this deal from Pacific Holidays, you’ll set your own pace on a self-driving tour of New Zealand, before boarding a flight to spend the remainder of the trip in Fiji’s paradise-like setting. Click to view the full 11-day, 8-night itinerary.

Days 1–2: You’ll board the Air Pacific transpacific flight at LAX, and cross the International Date Line on day 2.

Days 3–7: On the third day, visitors arrive in Auckland and transfer to the Jucy Rental Car Depot. For the rest of the day, and the following four days, guests have free range to explore New Zealand’s North and South Islands on self-driving tours. Pacific Holidays staff can help guests structure itineraries, but suggested attractions include the North Island’s geothermal region, where waterfalls, hot springs, and mud geysers draw visitors to Rotorua and Taupo.

On the South Island, travelers can bungee jump, skydive, whitewater raft, and Zorb in Queenstown, known as the “Adventure Capital of the World.” Venture west into Fiorland National Park to see to Milford Sound, called the “eighth wonder of the world” by writer Rudyard Kipling for its spectacular waterfalls that tumble down cliffs into the Tasman Sea. Father north in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, you can visit the renowned Fox Glacier and the Franz Josef Glacier.

With the included five-day Gold Pass, guests can retire to any of New Zealand’s Golden Chain motel locations, from a spot in Queenstown near Fiordland National Park to a post in Auckland.

Day 8: After returning your car to the Jucy Rentals Depot in Auckland, board a flight to Nadi International Airport (NAN) on the island of Fiji. Upon landing, Pacific Holidays staff provides a transfer to the Sonaisali Island Resort, located across the lagoon just a three-minute boat ride from the main island of Viti-Levu.

Days 9­–10: The next two days are left up to you. Lounge on the beach, splash in the lagoon-style pool with swim-up bar, and dine in the hotel’s two restaurants and four bars. Through the hotel, guests can book excursions such as horseback riding, surf tours, or snorkeling.

Day 11: Guests are transferred to NAN for a flight back to LAX, where they will arrive on the same day after crossing over the International Date Line.

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Desert-Inspired Hotel with Elegant Outdoor Pool

Best Western Plus Palm Desert Resort lies in the heart of the Coachella Valley, a stark landscape peppered with lush fairways and flanked on three sides by mountains. Befitting its desert environs, the hotel features Spanish villa architecture, replete with stucco walls and terra cotta roof tiles. Towering palm trees and blooming gardens add a bright pop of color to the hotel's landscaping.

The courtyard contains a figure-eight-shaped pool and circular whirlpool, surrounded by fan palms and verdant shrubs. After a dip in the pool, you can sweat it out at the workout facility, or engage in a shouting match with the line judge at the tennis courts. In the morning, don’t miss out on a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast of eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, danishes, and bacon.

Palm Desert, California: Shopping and Golf in Scenic Coachella Valley

Palm Desert shares the same desert landscape and resort atmosphere as Palm Springs, about 15 miles to the northeast. El Paseo, known as the Rodeo Drive of the Desert, is within walking distance of the hotel. The popular shopping district features art galleries, high-end boutiques, and brand-name retailers such as Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Palm Desert is also a gateway town into the north end of the 800,000-acre Joshua Tree National Park, located less than 60 miles away. In addition to being the birthplace of Bono, the desert park is famous for its unusual geologic formations and mountains made of twisted rock, which are ideal for rock climbing. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife including desert bighorn sheep, golden eagles, and coyotes.

For a guaranteed glimpse of wildlife, check out The Living Desert, a zoo, botanical garden, and animal hospital in Palm Desert. As you stroll throughout the various geographical regions—including North America, Africa, and Village WaTuTu—you will see flora and fauna indigenous to that area, which can include mexican gray wolves, giraffes, and jaguars. The Living Desert also boasts a G-scale model train that winds its way through replicas of historical scenes, including a California logging and mining town and the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

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Tour of Ireland's Countryside with Historical Hotel Stays

Few spots in Europe feel as timeless as the Irish countryside. The craggy, untouched coastline and rolling meadows dotted with herds of sheep and the occasional crumbling castle seem to belong to a faraway past, as though the Industrial Revolution never managed to jump the Irish Sea. From the Tudor stone houses of Kilkenny to the tombs of Boyne Valley, Authentic Ireland Travel's seven-day, six-night Historic Hotels of Ireland Tour offers a taste of the Emerald Isle, with a flexible itinerary and accommodations in centuries-old lodgings.

This deal does not include airfare. Click here to see a detailed trip itinerary.

Days 1–2: After arriving at Dublin Airport, you'll head to Kilkenny City, one of Ireland's oldest towns and home to an imposing 12th-century castle. Directly opposite the castle and the first stop on the tour of historical hotels, Kilkenny River Court Hotel makes a convenient base for exploring the medieval city's many pubs and craft shops. With the included rental car, you can also visit the historical sites in the surrounding countryside, including the monastic ruins of Kells Priory, which you can freely explore outside the company of tour guides and resident poltergeists.

Days 3–5: On the next leg of the journey, you'll stay at the gray-stone Cahernane House Hotel in rural Killarney on the edge of a mountainous national park. Built by the Earl of Pembroke's family in 1877, this stately manse is filled with Victorian antiques, grand velvets, and log fireplaces.

Over the next three days, you're free to explore the town's lively pub districts on Parliament and John Streets and the nearby valley for activities ranging from golf to canoeing. On day 4, a horse and carriage ride tours the countryside via scenic paths, making a short stopover at the 15th-century Ross Castle. Then it's off to the fishing village of Dingle, known for ancient beehive huts and its resident bottlenose dolphin, Fungie, who has inhabited the local waters since 1983. During a one-hour boat trip, you can watch him jump and play up close, as he often puts on a show for travelers.

Days 6–7: A 3.5-hour drive through Ireland's famously verdant countryside will put you at Dunboyne Castle Hotel, an 18th-century mansion tucked amid Boyne Valley's megalithic sites. Here, you can tour prehistoric burial sites such as Newgrange, a large mound built more than 5,000 years ago and filled with mysterious carvings and stone-passage tombs. On day 7, you'll head to Dublin for the return flight home or continue traveling at your own.

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Beachside Resort amid Virtually Unexplored Jungle

Belize is easy to overlook. It's a tiny country locked in between Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. "If the world had any ends, Belize would certainly be one of them," author Aldous Huxley said in 1934, as noted by the New York Times. Since it's existed in relative obscurity for years, Belize still has an undiscovered feel; many of its most beautiful aspects require you to hike, dive, or go spelunking. Hidden amid the wild jungle are hundreds of cave systems and Maya ruins. And out under the water, you can find the second-longest barrier reef in the world in Belize, which is surrounded by thousands of tiny remote islands called Cayes.

Belizean Dreams is situated beachside on the country’s eastern coastline, and it's positioned nicely for you to explore the country's hidden treasures or just relax in peaceful seclusion. You can see the sea up close by borrowing snorkeling gear and one of the property’s complimentary kayaks, or try to be the first to cross the sea upon one of the resort's complimentary bicycles.

In the resort’s tropical accommodations, there are covered porches that overlook the beach, dotted with palm trees and thatched huts, with the Caribbean Sea just beyond. Inside, colorful local artwork and hand-painted Mexican sinks are set against hardwood floors and handcrafted mahogany and cedar furnishings.

Chefs at the open-air Woven Palm Restaurant & Palapa Bar prepare dishes that blend Caribbean and Mesoamerican cuisines. Hudut, a mashed-plantain dish, is served with fresh fish in coconut milk, and bundiga, made from green bananas, accompanies a local chicken stew.

Belize: Explore Lush Jungle, Friendly Villages, and One of Cousteau's Top 10 Dive Sites on Earth

Belizean Dreams offers a range of adventures and excursions. On a specialty dive tour, there's a stop at the Great Blue Hole, which Jacques Cousteau declared one of the top 10 dive sites on earth. Or, on another tour, you can wind through the Maya Mountains en route to Xunantunich, a preserved Maya ceremonial site. At the top, there are panoramic views of Belize, Guatemala, and the bald spots of monkeys.

A mile away, you can find the coastal village of Hopkins, which was dubbed “the friendliest village in Belize” by Belize First magazine. The town of about 1,000 predominantly English-speaking residents is an up-and-coming tourist destination thanks to its welcoming atmosphere and growing number of restaurants, bars, and attractions.

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Cozy Boutique Hotel in Heart of Sonoma Wine Country

West Sonoma Inn & Spa stands amid 6 acres of Russian River Valley countryside in the heart of Sonoma wine country. The stylish boutique hotel pays homage to its lush natural surroundings by incorporating design elements drawn from the landscape, from its color palette of warm earth tones to the lobby's vaulted redwood ceiling. The inn also seems to evoke the wine country’s spirit through its pebbled wine garden, where burgundy-tinted oak barrels provide a makeshift wall for guests sipping reds and whites in lounge chairs. Outside, the neighboring 100-acre vineyard stretches toward the hills in the distance.

As the sun dyes the open California skies rosé, retreat to courtyard suites, where you'll find one king bed with a Pacific Coast comforter, either a fully equipped kitchenette with bistro-style furniture or a sitting room with a wet bar. Take in a similar view from massage beds at the inn's onsite spa. There, five massage therapists administer organic treatments ranging from cleansing sea-plant facials to the Russian River hot-stone massages.

Sonoma County: Majestic Redwoods and Scenic Vineyards

Located about an hour north of San Francisco, Sonoma County’s gentle climate and rolling landscapes invite year-round recreation. West Sonoma Inn & Spa lies within walking distance of skyscraper-high redwoods and the canoe-friendly Russian River. A 25-minute drive to the craggy Pacific coastline takes visitors to unspoiled beaches where seals and pelicans easily outnumber people, making for lopsided outcomes in cross-species beach-volleyball tournaments.

Russian River Valley’s most rewarding aspect may be its rolling roads dotted with family-owned wineries. The wine pass included with this Groupon gives access to free tastings and discounts at 16 vineyards handpicked by hotel management. Many of the local vineyards specialize in handcrafted wines and employ sustainable farming practices. Sample the apple dessert wine at Graton Ridge Cellars, then head over to Hook and Ladder Vineyards to smell the cranberry and vanilla flavors of its award-winning pinot noir.

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Spacious Suites on Historic WWII Air Base in the Heart of Scottsdale

Between 1942 and 1945, young WWII pilots took off and landed more than 600,000 times on the runways of the Thunderbird II Air Base, situated in the desert outside of Phoenix. Today, jetsetters of a different kind frequent the historic base, which has been repurposed as the Scottsdale Municipal Airport. The base also contains the Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites, a four-story, tawny stucco hotel. Soaring ceilings and thick oriental rugs welcome visitors at the grand entrance area, and there are nods to the property's aviation history throughout the hotel.

Considering its proximity to the runway, each of the hotel's standard suites is rather quiet. That's because each room has been soundproofed with thick concrete walls to reduce the sound of engines and the cries of babies that want their pilot's license 16 years ahead of schedule. All of the spacious suites include a living room and separate bedroom, as well as new, cushy couches and chairs to lend the room homey feel.

Before heading off to bed, stop by the lounge next to the Silver Wings Restaurant to grab a nightcap and browse the hotel’s WWII aviation memorabilia. Among the relics are photographs of pilots and a table crafted from an aircraft rotary-cylinder-engine top. In the morning, guests can fill up on eggs, bacon, pastries, and steaming coffee at the complimentary hot breakfast buffet.

Scottsdale, Arizona: High-End Shopping in the “The West’s Most Western Town”

Situated slightly northeast of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale was once a vast ranch lands lined with citrus farms and cowboy settlements, earning it the nickname of “The West’s Most Western Town.” Today, the lush desert oasis is studded with glittering outdoor fountains, emerald-green golf courses, and an active nightlife scene.

For many vacationers, "sightseeing" in Scottsdale translates to "window-shopping." A few steps from the hotel, wander past palm trees to find designer stores such as Cartier and Anthropologie. A few minutes away is the charming and quaint Old Town Scottsdale, where brick buildings offer a glimpse into how the town earned its “Most Western” moniker. Stroll down its winding streets to find art galleries, a mammoth used bookstore, and public sculptures on nearly every corner.

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Victorian Bed & Breakfast in Heart of Historical Mining Town

During the California gold rush, the town now known as Placerville was dubbed Dry Diggings in reference to the scores of miners passing through with cartloads of dirt on their way to pan for gold in nearby streams. Though the town's name has since changed, links to the past remain. In fact, a number of the 100-year-old buildings and ornate Victorian houses lining Main Street are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A five-minute walk from downtown lies The Albert Shafsky House Bed and Breakfast, a restored Queen Ann home built in 1902 and distinguished by its charming gabled roof.

Local wine awaits new arrivals as they are greeted by innkeepers Rita Timewell and Stephanie Carlson and their miniature dachshund, Lily. There are only three guest rooms at the bed and breakfast, and each is decorated differently. The romantic Vineyard room features a blush and burgundy palette, local artwork, and live Cupids flitting around the space. In the morning, you'll wake up to a full, hot breakfast, which may include Rita's baked apple pancakes or cranberry-banana-nut bread along with coffee, fruit, and bacon.

Placerville, California: Historical Mining Town near Vineyards and Woodlands

Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of eastern California, the small town of Placerville is right on the edge of the Eldorado National Forest, about 40 minutes from Sacramento. Downtown Placerville is a pleasant place to take a stroll. It's steeped in Old West history and filled with century-old buildings, such as Placerville Hardware, one of the oldest hardware stores in the country. The celebrated late painter Thomas Kinkade hailed from this gold-rush community—the original Kinkade Gallery is located right on Main Street.

The town lies in the heart of El Dorado wine country. Dozens of vineyards dot the area, and most have tasting rooms and offer daily tours. The wines are noted for their distinct, powerfully fruity flavors, which are said to be caused by the extreme elevations of the Sierra Nevada and by the area's soil, which is made up of blackberry preserves.

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Spacious Condos in Area Steeped in Colonial History

The manor house that stands on the grounds of The Historic Powhatan Resort dates back to 1735. Sturdily built with 20-inch-thick brick walls and distinctive T-shaped chimneys, the two-story structure survived the American Revolution and a fire during the Civil War that ravaged the surrounding plantation. Today, the house stands amid carefully manicured gardens and rolling hills on the resort's 250 wooded acres.

Powhatan's spacious suites occupy several buildings surrounding its historical showpiece. Inside, separate dining and living areas give families room to spread out or use the sofa to stage reenactments of General Washington's crossing of the Delaware. Industrious guests can craft their own meals in a fully equipped kitchen stocked with all the necessary dishes and cutlery. Alternatively, the resort's onsite restaurant, The Kitchen at Powhatan (open Thursday–Sunday), serves seasonal fare lauded by Gourmet magazine for its fusion of southern cooking and California cuisine. The dining room reinforces the colonial vibe with its enormous stone fireplace and period decor.

In between visits to Williamsburg's historic sites and theme parks, kids can romp through the resort's playground and splash pool. There are also tennis and racquetball courts as well as a full calendar of events, including fife performances, scavenger hunts, and wine tastings beside the pond.

Williamsburg, Virginia: Citywide Living History Museum

Located 150 miles south of Washington, DC, Williamsburg was the capital of the Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780 and a hotbed of political dissent leading up to the American Revolution. The city's historic area has been meticulously restored to look exactly as it did in the 1770s. The area known as Colonial Williamsburg encompasses dozens of 18th-century structures, including the capitol—the site of the first unanimous vote for independence from the British. Live-action historical interpreters enliven the district's taverns, shops, and rebuilt homes. Sparks fly at blacksmiths' workshops, faux minutemen fire muskets, and old-fashioned printers churn out incendiary pamphlets decrying unjust tea levies and the abolition of tricorn hats.

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Palatial Beachfront Hotel with Elegant, Mediterranean Décor

Modeled on the elaborate palaces built during the golden age of Middle Eastern architecture, GR Caribe By Solaris adds a touch of Arabian Nights to the raucous party atmosphere of Cancun. Arched windows overlaid with intricate ironwork are cut into white stucco walls, and colonnaded porticos lead to open-air courtyards such as the Plaza Zeferino, an extension of the lobby bar. Though the Mediterranean-style retreat is located in the heart of Cancun's spring-break-friendly hotel zone, its décor is elegant, its mood serene.

Which is not to say the place is stuffy. The resort keeps guests busy with dance classes, magic shows, and a private marina stocked with kayaks, pedal boats, and windsurfing equipment. A supervised kids' club at the GR Caribe's sister hotel, the Royal Solaris Cancun located just next door, entertains youngsters with a mini water park, outdoor games, and craft projects such as decorating a piñata to resemble Oscar De La Hoya.

For grownups, two onsite bars and a pair of outdoor hot tubs overlooking the ocean supply differing forms of liquid refreshment. A romantic dinner at Veneto, one of the hotel's three restaurants, caps off the day with Italian and French dishes and views of a secluded lagoon.

Cancun, Mexico: White-Sand Beaches and Rollicking Nightlife

Located on the Atlantic coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, Cancun is characterized by picture-perfect white-sand beaches and crowds of high-spirited revelers. While the spring break set flocks to the city's scores of bars and clubs, families and outdoor adventurers are drawn to areas such as Playa Norte, a beach whose turquoise waters brim with snorkelers, scuba divers, and kayakers.

Inasmuch as Cancun pulls in more than 4 million visitors each year, escaping the crowds isn't always easy, but a visit to Playa Delfines often offers a chance for sunbathing in relative seclusion. Resorts have yet to encroach upon this particular stretch of sand, and it's especially popular with surfers. In fact, for those interested in taking surfing lessons in Cancun, Playa Delfines is a good place to start.

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Explore Amazon Rainforest, Incan Ruins, and Ancient Mountain Cities

In addition to South America’s extensive collection of pre-Columbian ruins, Peru is a land of immense geographic diversity, ranging from the Andes Mountains in the west to the Amazonian Basin in the northeast. In fact, of the world’s 32 defined climate zones, Peru has 28. Travelers get an up-close view of the country's varied landscape during G Adventure’s 10-day tour led by experienced local guides. Take an expedition through the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, hike through the Amazonian rainforest, and spend an afternoon exploring Machu Picchu. A flexible itinerary gives visitors plenty of free time to wander off the beaten path. View the full itinerary here.

Day 1: After arriving in Lima and taking a shuttle to a comfortable hotel, visitors spend the afternoon exploring the Peruvian capital on their own. Head to The Plaza de Armas, the city’s historic square, to watch the changing of the guards outside of Government Palace, or continue on to the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art at Museu Rafeal Larco Herrera. For a taste of local seafood, try the ceviche—a dish of raw fish marinated in fresh lime juice—which is so popular with Peruvians that June 28 has been declared National Day of Ceviche.

Days 2–3: After a flight to Puerto Maldonado, you’ll venture deep in the Amazon rainforest via a motorized canoe and a one-hour hike to reach the jungle lodge where you’ll be staying. The majority of this journey takes place in the Tambopata Rainforest, which harbors thousands of different species. A canopy of towering trees shelters the jaguar, the red howler monkey, and more than 1,300 bird species. Guides lead the way through this tropical frontier to G Lodge Amazon, the group's home base for two days.

Days 4–7: A morning flight takes guests to Cuzco, the former Incan capital that’s nestled in the Andes Mountains. A living museum of Peruvian history, the city is dotted with Incan stonewalls, Spanish colonial churches, and several art museums. During a day trip to the nearby fishing village of Ollantaytambo, climb to the top of the Fortress Ruins. Located on a rocky outcrop, this defense structure made of dozens of steep stone terraces is known as the best surviving example of advanced Inca architecture.

Days 8–10: After an overnight stay in the village of Aguas Calientes, the tour takes a scenic train ride to Machu Picchu, the fabled "lost city" of the Incas, which was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley, the 15th-century Incan sanctuary dazzles visitors with 12 acres of stone staircases, grassy terraces, and thatch-roofed homes—all surrounded by tropical mountains. A train ride and van transfer brings guests back to Cuzco. From here, guests can journey home or continue to explore on their own.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Spanish-Style Villas on Nicaragua's Pacific Coast

Surfers first discovered the tiny fishing village of San Juan del Sur a few decades ago. They came for the waves and stuck around for its laid-back atmosphere. Predictably, word of San Juan del Sur spread beyond the surfing community, and the sleepy village began to come alive. But local officials have aimed to preserve the small-town feel by limiting development along the coast. One of the properties lucky enough to call this spot home is Bahia del Sol Villas and Condominiums. The villas are stylish, but they aren't flashy; the architecture harmonizes with the hillside landscape overlooking the sea.

Bahia del Sol’s private community of nine villas, stuccoed with Spanish-tile roofs, could easily be mistaken for a resort in the Mediterranean. A spacious terrace on the second story of each villa looks out to San Juan del Sur’s crescent-shaped beach along the Pacific. You can get to the beach by taking a 10-minute walk through town, but if you want to take a quick swim, the resort has its own two swimming pools lined with a broad, chair-lined sundeck.

Inside the villas, the walls are decorated with brightly colored paintings by regional artists. Locally harvested wood features prominently in the furniture, such as in the kitchen’s hand-carved countertops. All rooms are temperature controlled, too: the second floor has central air, and the ground level keeps cool thanks to ocean breezes and teams of parrots flapping in unison.

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua: Surf, Sand, and Nature

San Juan del Sur has a well-developed tourist infrastructure with plenty of restaurants and efficient transportation, but the area still feels like a relatively undiscovered spot for surfers. Surfers continue to chase waves at Yankee Beach and Escameca Beach, both located just south of town. Surf shops dot the streets closest to the beach, and many offer lessons and boards for beginners as well as day trips offshore for more seasoned boarders. Bahia del Sol’s bilingual staff will happily assist in planning surf outings or other activities around the coastline; you can try your hand at horseback riding, fishing, and zipline canopy tours of the surrounding forest.

About 11 miles south of town, there's Playa La Flor—literally translated as “Beach of Flowers." It got its name from the flowering tamarind trees that line the sugar-white sand. Every year between July and December, thousands of olive ridley sea turtles emerge from the surf to lay their eggs on the beach and mug for National Geographic photographers.

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Golf Resort with Ocean Views from Private Balconies

With the Mauna Kea volcano as backdrop, Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay designed the Hapuna Golf Course to complement the dramatic rise from the Pacific shore to about 700 feet above sea level. Named one of the top 20 courses in Hawaii by Links magazine in 2011, the course sits on the sprawling grounds of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. The championship course could be the Hawaiian retreat's most striking feature were it not for its beach—a pristine expanse of white sand lining the turquoise Pacific on the Big Island's Kohala Coast.

Each of the hotel's oceanfront rooms offers views of the water from a private lanai. The intimate balcony features stone tile floors, a quaint café table, and comfy lounge chairs. Back at ground level, you can choreograph underwater ballets in the heated pool or lounge on cushy chairs under coconut palm trees and white canopy umbrellas. Nearby, there’s a small, secluded cove where giant sea turtles occasionally seek harbor and snorkelers set off to explore Hawaii's abundant marine life.

After a day of exploring the waterfront, you can cap your night with a traditional luau on the Mauna Kea luau grounds. As musicians pluck at steel guitars and hula dancers sway, diners feast on Hawaiian specialties including poi, sashimi, and roasted kalua pig.

Kohala Coast, Hawaii: Big Island Paradise Abounding with Adventures on Sea & Land

The Big Island's Kohala Coast offers a nearly limitless selection of invigorating aquatic adventures. Certified instructors at scuba-diving centers within 15 minutes of the resort lead underwater tours through crystalline waters inhabited by whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, and bottlenose mermaids. Amphibious travelers can also board catamarans for treks to areas frequented by humpback whales.

About a 60-mile drive from the hotel, Akaka Falls State Park is known for its waterfalls nestled in lush Hawaiian rainforest that teems with wild orchids, bamboo groves, and draping ferns. The park's namesake Akaka Falls, reachable by a winding footpath, presents a majestic sight as it plummets nearly 500 feet into a bubbling ravine below.

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Spacious Southwestern Suites in the Heart of Santa Fe

When you walk down the streets of downtown Santa Fe, it can feel more like a rustic Old West town than the thriving capital city of New Mexico. Some big businesses and skyscrapers have sprouted up throughout Santa Fe, to be sure, but right among them in the heart of downtown, you’ll see historical mission churches and adobe pueblos. It’s all set against the ruddy backdrop of the Sangre Cristo Mountains. Villas de Santa Fe are situated right in the foothills of these mountains‚ about 16 miles northeast of downtown. Warm, southwestern-style décor and well-appointed rooms make the property a comfy home base after you explore colorful downtown Santa Fe, which is rich in Native American and Mexican history.

Inside the pueblo-like villas, modern amenities complement the rustic and colorful decorative scheme. There’s Santa Fe–style art hanging on the walls in one of the standard one-bedroom suites, and you can find colorful woven fabrics on the couch in the separate living area. Each of these suites features a partial kitchen, where there’s a full-size refrigerator, a stovetop, and honey-colored wood cabinetry. It makes the place feel more like a comfy apartment than a hotel room.

After waking up to the bright sun of a Santa Fe morning, you can feel free to unwind in the outdoor hot tub or practice chasing after mail carriers on the treadmills in the onsite fitness center. The hotel also has a complimentary shuttle that can zip you around the property; that allows guests to save their energy for scenic walks through nearby downtown area.

Santa Fe, New Mexico: Old West Architecture and Fiery Southwestern Cuisine

Just a short walk from the Villas de Santa Fe, you’ll find the perpetually sun-soaked downtown area. It’s a historical center with a vibrant mosaic of cultural influences made up of fragments from the Native American, Latino, and western traditions. The 400-year-old site of the St. Francis Cathedral Basilica dons stained-glass windows, which cast rainbow colors onto the stone floor. Handmade leather treasures line the shelves at a custom-cowboy-boot store in the city.

Fiery chili is a standby garnish for chefs in Santa Fe; on a food tour of Santa Fe, you can sample zesty southwestern fare from popular local vendors. At day's end, the tour stops at the rooftop of a beloved downtown restaurant, where guests may sip a glass of wine, admire the brilliant sunset, and drop water balloons onto evil school principals.

New Mexico’s varied terrain and seemingly nonstop sunshine make the area a great place for hiking and biking. It’s worth it to visit the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which have peaks that stand at about 12,000 feet high; they’re just a short trip from Villas de Santa Fe.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

See Cape Town, Victoria Falls, and Botswana’s Elephants

From South Africa’s cosmopolitan cities to Botswana’s remote plains, Africa’s southern tip is a diverse blend of cultures, landscapes, and animals. With Africa Answers' 11-day excursion, you’ll dabble in it all, and check three of Africa’s most notable sights off your bucket list. Explore South Africa’s colonial Cape Town, marvel at the stunning Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and traverse Botswana’s Chobe National Park on safari, where you could see at least four of the so-called Big Five game animals, including the lion, the African elephant, the cape buffalo, and the leopard.

Click here to view the full itinerary.

Days 1–2: Depart on South African Airways from New York City or Washington, DC, landing in Johannesburg, South Africa, on day 2. After clearing customs, travelers board a flight to head to Cape Town.

A company representative will meet guests at the airport before escorting them to Pepper Club Luxury Hotel & Spa. Heralded by CNN Traveller as the Best Luxury Hotel in South Africa, Pepper Club dazzles with a beachfront restaurant and nightclub and an indoor pool with panoramic views of Table Mountain. Guests stay in a one-bedroom superior deluxe suite, and have complimentary access to the shuttle service between the hotel, waterfront, and beach.

Days 3–5: The first full day in Cape Town begins with a guided half-day city tour, including a cable-car ride to Table Mountain’s summit to see the city from above. The rest of the morning is devoted to exploring sights such as the Castle of Good Hope, the country’s oldest colonial building. Drive through the Malay Quarter, past the quaint Bo-Kaap homes awash in pastel hues. At the end of the tour, watch as a professional diamond cutter demonstrates his craft. On days 4 and 5, guests can take a self-guided tour of the town; Pepper Club’s 24-hour concierge service can provide ideas for exploration.

Day 6: Guests fly from Cape Town to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. A staff member greets guests at the airport and arranges transportation to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, an upscale hotel listed on Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List. The lodge resembles a multilevel tree house, with an onsite watering hole that attracts kudu, impalas, and elephants year-round. While at the hotel, enjoy complimentary afternoon tea and daily cocktail hour, or participate in a vulture-feeding experience.

In the early evening, you’ll take a sunset cruise down the Zambezi River, located above the falls. Keep an eye out for hippos, crocodiles, and other animals along the river banks.

Days 7–8: Day 7 is dedicated to exploring Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Travelers are transported to the nearby cascades, where they’ll also have a chance to walk through the surrounding rainforest and sites, including Cataract Island.

The following day is up to you. In the evening, partake in a traditional dinner meal at the Boma Restaurant, replete with cultural songs, dances, and Zimbabwean delicacies, including—for brave tasters—slightly grilled mopani worms.

Days 9–10: In the morning, travelers head to the Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana, located only 90 minutes from Victoria Falls. Guests spend two days on safari, exploring the Chobe National Park on game drives and sunset game-viewing cruises. Four of the Big Five animals—lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalo—make their home on the reserve and can sometimes be seen alongside giraffes, monkeys, and awestruck Ernest Hemingways. The park is especially rife with elephants, as there are an estimated population of 120,000 in Botswana.

Days 11–12: Guests are transferred back to Victoria Falls Airport, where they will fly to the U.S. via Johannesburg.

An extra fee applies for departures from Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

By Mikal McLendon, Travel Correspondent

Historical Boutique Hotel in Thriving Downtown Arts District

“Oh, that’s pretty,” says a well-dressed guest who has recently arrived at Hotel Providence, nudging her companion and nodding at a large jade sculpture of galloping horses. “That’s our centerpiece," the concierge chimes in. "From China. It’s really rare.” The horses are the most vibrant piece adorning the marble-floored lobby of this hotel, whose collection encompasses French steel engravings, centuries-old murals, and gilded Swedish mirrors.

And the building itself has as deep of a history as the artwork inside it: the building had turns as a college dormitory, a department store, and a grain silo before the turn of the 20th century, when it was repurposed to become a classic New England hotel.

There’s a definite appreciation for art here; each guest room is decorated with local artwork ranging from paintings of city scenes to ceramic sculptures of fish. Each also comes with a continental armoire and wooden headboards. The junior and premier suites are fairly spacious—there are separate living rooms furnished with queen sofas if you need to sleep extra guests or add reinforcements to your pillow fort. Premier suites have added luxuries such as a whirlpool tub, a granite wet bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the adjacent park and historical Grace Church.

Hotel Providence's Aspire Restaurant prepares New England–style cuisine such as clam chowder and jumbo lump crab cakes. Ingredients are sourced from local farms and the hotel's own rooftop garden. During warmer nights, you can dine in the restaurant's candlelit courtyard and enjoy selections from an international wine list.

Providence: Historical Haven Lined with Art Galleries, Restored Theaters, and Fine Dining

"The art scene is incredible here," raves Tricia Carter, Hotel Providence’s marketing manager. "Every day there's something new." The active community support of the arts has helped to earn Providence its reputation as the “Creative Capital.”

In an effort to rejuvenate the historical entertainment district here, the city partnered with its three universities and gave artists tax breaks to live downtown. You can now catch Broadway musicals and Tennessee Williams dramas at beautifully restored historical theaters from the 1920s such as the Providence Performing Arts Center and Trinity Repertory Theatre.

A short walk from Hotel Providence, you'll also find a vast network of downtown galleries; many of these feature the work of artists and graduates from the nearby Rhode Island School of Design.

The city's thriving food culture rivals the art scene in creativity and vigor; there’s an enclave of Italian eateries on Federal Hill, and delis dot the downtown area. Many local chefs source their ingredients from farms bordering the city, which set up shop downtown on Fridays at the farmers' market. About 10 minutes south of downtown, the Culinary Arts Museum celebrates Providence's love of food with more than 250,000 artifacts, ranging from antique cooking gadgets to elaborate wedding cakes.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Spacious Condos Surrounded by Rocky Mountains

Steamboat Springs didn't start out as a resort community. Located nearly 7,000 feet up in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Colorado, the town was settled largely by ranchers whose hale and hearty pioneer spirit still lingers today. Things are relatively low-key here—especially in summer—with miles of rolling hill country to serve as the setting for all kinds of open-air pursuits. Mountain Resorts is one of the oldest property-management companies in the area, providing spacious, family-friendly condominiums and concierge services from a staff mostly made up of Steamboat Springs natives.

Both properties encompassed by this deal—the Ranch and the Phoenix—lie within Yampa Valley. The Ranch is distinctly rustic, surrounded by 36 acres of tree-studded hills and featuring wooden decks and wood-burning fireplaces in each condo. The Phoenix, on the other hand, has a more modern look following a recent $4 million renovation that included installation of all-new stucco and siding. Both properties enjoy access to outdoor heated pools and hot tubs, and the spacious two-bedroom suites include full kitchens and living rooms with pullout sofas.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Historical Ranch Town in Rocky Mountains

Steamboat Springs was named after its roiling mineral springs, which sounded to some early pioneers like a chugging steamboat. It's known as the birthplace of recreational skiing in Colorado thanks to a ski jump built in 1914 by cross-country champion Carl Howelsen. The slopes continue to draw visitors to town, but there's plenty to do in warmer weather. There are more than 50 miles of nature trails and wildflower fields for hiking, several mountain-view golf courses, and high-country lakes and streams that provide ample fishing. One network of rivers even flows through the downtown area, with launch points along the way for seasonal tubing.

Steamboat Springs retains vestiges of its history as a ranching center. Spur-clad cowboys still stroll the main streets, which are lined with western art galleries and clothing boutiques. Throughout the summer, the town hosts a pro rodeo series that includes traditional shows and Wild West–themed block parties. During the 32nd annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo on July 7 and 8, ranchers will try to one-up each other by performing airborne tricks such as dipping into the lake and hogtieing clouds.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Weeklong Journey Through Morocco's Medinas, Kasbahs, and Desert Wilderness

The Strait of Gibraltar separates Morocco and Spain, and they’re only about 8 miles apart at the narrowest point. Cross that stretch of water, though, and there’s a striking shift in culture and climate. Scattered throughout the Moroccan desert landscape, there are medinas—old town squares surrounded by medieval walls. Within these ancient Islamic fortresses, you’ll typically find winding streets with open-air markets that brim with colorful clothing, woodwork, and sweet-smelling cuisine.

During an eight-day guided tour, G Adventures will lead you from Casablanca to Marrakech to show how Morocco's rich history and traditions intermingle with modernity. Along with a group of 10–15 people, a "Chief Experience Officer" will lead each trek and encourage the group to try new things to get an understanding of the Moroccan culture. Breakfast is included each day, as are hotel accommodations with one roommate from your group, but airfare is not.

View the full itinerary here.

Day 1: Upon arrival in Casablanca, you'll meet for a powwow with your tour group at the hotel. There, you'll make introductions and go over logistics before heading out for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: After breakfast, you and your compadres will pile into an air-conditioned van for the four-hour drive to Meknes. You’ll take a guided tour of its medina, which was once ruled by Moulay Ismail. Artifacts from his reign still remain intact, including an ingenious granary and stable that accommodated the sultan's legendary 12,000 horses and their swimming pools filled with delicious oats.

A 45-minute ride north soon lands at Volubilis, an ancient skeleton of a Roman town complete with bathhouses and pillars that have stood for nearly 2,000 years. The day then winds down with a two-hour drive into Fez, another medieval town that, in the 11th century, was the largest city in the known world.

Day 3: A half-day guided walking tour of Fez's vibrant medina kicks off day 3. Here, you'll have a chance to browse traditional Moroccan souks, or bazaars, which overflow with everything from fresh produce and spices to handmade brass, wood, and copper goods. The rest of the day is set aside for you to explore this exotic city as you see fit.

Day 4: During a 10-hour drive across the Atlas Mountains, city scenes transform into desert. The first stop is Merzouga, a gateway town to the Sahara. Here, you'll condense your luggage into a single pack and trek out into the desert wilderness on camelback. As dusk falls, the group gathers at a Bedouin-style tent camp to sleep under a dazzling canopy of stars.

Day 5: Today, your tour troupe will rise at dawn and hike back to Merzouga as the sun rises. Later in the afternoon, you’ll take a hike through Todra Gorge, which has spectacular sheer-walled canyons, before heading to a local palm-tree farm.

Day 6: Ait Benhaddou is one of the Morocco's best-preserved kasbahs, and it’s the groups next stop after a drive through the Atlas foothills. You’ll also make an early lunch stop in the town of Ouarzazate, which served as the shooting location of several Hollywood films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator.

Days 7–8: After emerging from the mountainous Tizi n'Tichka Pass, take the day to explore Marrakech's famous Djemaa el Fna square, where you can bargain on anything from lanterns to sheep's heads. Before the end of your tour on day eight, it’s worth it to check out Marrakech's resplendent Koutoubia palace, the Saadina tombs, or see what else the city's been up to since its founding in 1062.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

A Taste of Merry Old England in a Cozy, Tudor-Style Inn

Since its founding in 1793, the town of Stowe has reinvented itself numerous times, from its early days as a potash-farming enclave to its brief stint as a Canadian smuggling outpost during the War of 1812. Stowe's streets and buildings are rife with American history, but today the town thrives as a mountain retreat with an artistic soul and an outdoorsy spirit. Just north of Main Street, Ye Olde England Inne, a sprawling Tudor-style manor, welcomes guests with a taste of merry old England. Straight-backed armchairs sit beside a roaring fire in the lobby, with English prints and paintings on the walls and a crimson carpet reminiscent of the old redcoat uniforms.

Housed within the inn, Mr. Pickwick's Gastropub and Steakhouse packs its pub cellars with several thousand bottles of wine, rare cognacs, and small-batch bourbons, as well as the requisite ales and lagers. An arched stone entryway leads to the pub's chummy, Old-World interior, where old-fashioned beer steins dangle from the rafters. More than just a watering hole, the restaurant also serves an inventive menu of seafood, fowl, and steak.

The inn’s Bluff House suites cushion overnighters in English-manor elegance with four-poster, rice-carved queen beds. Each suite features a fireplace, a lounge with wing chairs and cherry-wood furnishings, and a spacious bathroom outfitted with a jacuzzi tub. A private deck or patio connects to most suites, affording views of the village, Mount Mansfield, and the Green Mountains. Most standard rooms feature Victorian-style wallpaper and bright bedspreads atop brass beds.

Stowe, Vermont: Artistic Enclave Nestled at the Base of the Green Mountains

Ye Olde England Inne is set against the scenic backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains. The inn is centrally located in Stowe, so you'll have easy access to the historical village and its arts scene, which includes the West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park, a spacious enclave showcasing pieces by budding and mid-career local artists who work in a range of media.

Stowe's prime location in a broad, fertile valley between the Green Mountains and Mount Mansfield—Vermont's highest peak—makes it an ideal launching pad for outdoor activities. A recreation path through Stowe loosely follows the meandering West Branch River with 5.5 miles of paved trails for biking, rollerblading, and jogging. The winding path’s arched wooden bridges crisscross the river 10 times from start to finish. At nearby Underhill State Park, set at the base of the 4,300-foot-tall Mount Mansfield, you can practice butterfly mating calls on one of four hikes to the summit.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Four-City Guided Tour of China from Beijing to Shanghai

The Great Wall of China stretches more than 5,000 miles across northern China—longer than the length of the continental United States—snaking through forests and up snow-capped mountains. To the south, the thriving supermetropolis of Shanghai boasts two of the world’s tallest structures—the ultrasleek Shanghai World Financial Center and the science-fictionesque Oriental Pearl Tower. You’ll have a chance to soak up these sights on Rewards Travel China's 10-day sightseeing tour, which will take you from the bustling streets of Beijing to the peaceful gardens of Hangzhou, with exciting stops in between.

Some deal options include roundtrip airfare from Los Angles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), or Vancouver (YVR) airports. Chinese visa fees ($140, apply by yourself) and $130 per person gratuity fees are not included. Departures may be made from other cities for an additional fee.

Click here for an in-depth look at the trip and a day-by-day itinerary.

Day 1–5: English-speaking guides will escort visitors to their hotels upon arrival in Beijing. A tour of China’s capital city begins the next day, with stops at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, a palatial fortress where emperors ruled mainland China in isolation for more than 500 years. During the four-day stint in Beijing, groups will also stop at the colossal Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony, and take the 37-mile drive up to Juyongguan to see the Great Wall.

Day 6–7: Groups fly to Suzhou by way of Shanghai, and then split time between Suzhou and Hangzhou, nicknamed "Paradise on Earth" and “the Venice of the East,” respectively. Each destination features a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hangzhou's West Lake, surrounded by pagodas and temples, and Suzhou’s classical gardens.

Day 8–10: The trip concludes with two full days in Shanghai and a visit to The Bund, a waterfront lined with buildings exhibiting art-deco, gothic, and neoclassical architecture. Outside the City God Temple, tourists can shop at more than 100 specialty stores and markets, many housed in buildings nearly a century old. Finish the trip as a spectator at the Shanghai Acrobatic Show. Guests depart after breakfast the following morning from Shanghai.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Quaint B & B with Horse Stables and Petting Zoo

Each morning at the crack of dawn, a rooster named Carlos announces the arrival of a new day on Splendor Farms. Carlos is joined at the onsite petting zoo by a menagerie of furry and winged residents, including miniature horses, baby goats, ducks, alpacas, and sheep. Located about 60 miles north of New Orleans, Splendor Farms is a 75-acre working farm and quaint bed and breakfast, run by Kelly Denise Bensabat.

The guest experience at Splendor Farms revolves around the animals. You’ll have a chance to play with the longhaired miniature dachshunds in the kennel, or help gather eggs in the hen house. Included with this deal is a complimentary trail ride on one of the farm's gentle, resident horses. Scenic riding trails wind through the woods, across big fields, and alongside the nearby Bogue Chitto River. You can also fish (bait and tackle included), canoe, and tube on the river, or splash around back at the swimming pool.

Each of the inn's three guest rooms is individually furnished and comes with a private entrance. Befitting its name, the newly renovated Ponderosa features wood-paneled walls, accented with vintage cowboy art, a western-themed quilt, and a stone wheel to sharpen your spurs. The Ponderosa also features a screen porch and overlooks the patio and pool. La Louisiane, the most spacious room, opens onto the pool and is decorated in a Mardi Gras theme of purple, green, and gold with Louisiana art and literature. The Queens' Suite boasts a four-poster bed, floral décor, and an attached gazebo. Each morning, the innkeepers prepare a farm-style country breakfast, made from the organic eggs produced by onsite hens.

Bush, Louisiana: Charming Southern Town North of Lake Pontchartrain

Splendor Farms, located within the town of Bush, sits about 60 miles north of New Orleans. Nearby Covington boasts a handful of antique and specialty shops on Lee Lane, but if you’re in town on a Wednesday or Saturday, be sure to stop by the farmers' market for local produce, meats, and baked goods. Located between Bush and Covington is the Abita Brewery, which produces the popular beers Turbodog and Purple Haze. Visitors can take a tour of the microbrewery Wednesday–Saturday, or stop in the Abita Brew Pub for a burger and a pint.

Though Splendor Farms sometimes features a discounted price online, this Groupon still offers the best deal available.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

Temples, Markets, and Elephants in Thailand's Northern Towns

The 13th-century city of Sukhothai was once the capital of northern Thailand. It was bordered by two moats and made up of more than 20 different wats—temples adorned with sitting Buddhas. Today, the town's ruins are a patchwork of rust-colored stonework and manicured lawns, and it's since been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During a nine-day, eight-night tour from G Adventures, you'll travel beyond Bangkok to explore Sukhothai and other cultural wonders of Northern Thailand. You'll be joined by local guides, who will teach you about the rich history behind each site, but there will also be plenty of free time for you to wander off the beaten track. View the full itinerary here.

Days 1–3: After making your own way to Bangkok, you'll head to the city's Chinatown district to meet up with the tour's main guide at a hotel. The surrounding metropolis sparkles with glass high-rises, including massive malls such as the Siam Paragon and the MBK Center.

The next day, the tour group will board a long-tail boat to navigate the city's khlongs—canals that crisscross the city. You'll then visit the reclining Buddha of Wat Pho, a massive gilded statue that is the largest of its kind. Then it's north to Sukhothai Historical Park, where you'll take a half-day biking tour past ancient gates and ponds covered with blossoming lotus flowers.

Days 4–6: Your group will soon take a series of bus trips that will steer away from tourist hotspots toward quieter villages in the Chiang Rai highlands. Horse-drawn carriages clip-clop across Lampang, a town surrounded by groves of teak trees that were once felled by elephants. Today, the animals find refuge in the Lampang Elephant Conservation Centre where, with the assistance of an experienced mahout, or elephant rider, you can ride on a friendly pachyderm's bare back and play patty-cake with its snout.

Next, the group heads to the Golden Triangle, the point where Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos meet. The township of Chiang Saen overlooks rugged foothills and the glistening Mekong River, and the Hall of Opium museum documents the history of illicit drug trade in the region.

Days 7–9: Just south is Chiang Mai, which is situated on the Ping River. Thanks in part to its geography, it's the largest city in northern Thailand and a culturally significant one. Surrounding the city is a giant wall that was built in 1296. The city's Night Bazaar buzzes with merchants selling silver filigree and dyed silks. And to cap off the journey, you'll climb the 300-step Naga staircase to a temple at the peak of the neighboring Doi Suthep mountain. Finally, you'll board a 12-hour overnight train back to Bangkok, where you're free to fly home after 3 p.m. or continue the adventure on your own.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

250-Year-Old Cocoa Plantation with Tropical Gardens near Sulphur Springs

In 1713, King Louis XIV granted the Fond Doux estate on St. Lucia to chocolate and cocoa producers, who would eventually expand the plantation to produce sugar. Today, even after its buildings have been repurposed as a resort, the estate still produces cocoa plants, ginger, nutmeg, and more. In addition to its samples of fresh cocoa, the property offers visitors the privilege of roaming 135 acres of exotic gardens, cinnamon trees, and a historic battle site between the British and the French. Named one of the world’s five best plantation resorts by the Guardian, Fond Doux Holiday Plantation not only reveals Soufriere’s breathtaking landscape, but also the island town’s rich history.

Fond Doux is so dedicated to its French colonial roots that many of the centuries-old buildings had been rescued from demolition and reconstructed onsite to preserve the resort's 18th-century feel. Many of the one-bedroom cottages feature wood-shake shingles and natural-wood four-poster beds and wicker furniture. In the Cinnamon cottage, rocking chairs sit on a sunlit veranda. Alternatively, the Banana Tree cottage recalls the surrounding rainforest through lime-green drapes.

At the onsite restaurants, The Cocoa Pod and Jardin Cacao, sample fresh mahi mahi with plantain chips or banana-rum flambé, served on traditional creole earthenware dishes. To support the estate’s self-sufficient, eco-friendly efforts, many of the ingredients used have been grown onsite.

To get an up-close and personal feel for the plantation, guests can tour the cocoa farm and see the step-by-step production process. Guides lead groups through hands-on demonstrations of cocoa drying all the way to making cocoa sticks.

Soufriere, St Lucia: Former Colonial Town with Volcanic Geography and Rainforests

Located in between Martinique and St. Vincent in the eastern Caribbean, St. Lucia was coveted by the English and French, who quarreled over the island for more than an a century. The French seem to have left a more noticeable influence on its arts and cuisine, as upscale French eateries can be found all along the coast. Grab a table to sample pepperpot soup, made with beef and spinach-like callaloo, or the country’s national dish of salt fish paired with green fig.

Named St. Lucia’s first town in 1746, Soufriere sits on the island’s eastern coast. Further inland from the crystal-blue beaches, Soufriere’s landscape shows dramatic evidence of ancient geographic upheaval. On either side of Jalousie Beach, a favorite for snorkelers, stand the Pitons, two imposing 2,000-foot volcanic plugs that still experience geothermal activity. Dense rainforests sprawl throughout Soufriere, so the area is ideal for bird watching, especially sandpipers, egrets, and parrots.

Billed as the world’s only “drive-in volcano,” Soufriere’s Sulphur Springs on St. Lucia allows visitors to drive right up to the mountain and stand steps from bubbling tar pits and steaming fumaroles. Feel free to bathe in a bubbling mud spring, as the springs are said to have therapeutic properties.

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Spacious Suites in Quiet Detroit Suburb

You’ll typically hear Detroit nicknamed “The Motor City” for being the American headquarters of auto giants like General Motors. But before it was paved with highways, Detroit was fancied as a strategic port to control ships and commerce on the Great Lakes. In fact, there are three world emblems on the Detroit city flag: France, England, and the United States. The city has been ruled by all three since first being settled by Europeans near the turn of the 18th century.

Detroit is a city rich with history and cultural institutions, and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Detroit Warren is conveniently located in a suburb near downtown but just removed enough if you want to have a quiet night in.

As you walk in the lobby, you’ll find a fireplace amid Bavarian-styled decor. Head up to your one-bedroom king suite and you’ll find a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider, a box of chocolates, and a bouquet of fresh flowers waiting as part of the romance package. Each spacious suite is laid out more like a cozy apartment than a hotel; there’s a kitchenette stocked with pots and pans, and you can feel free to sink into couches in the living room or take a relaxing bath in quicksand.

In the morning, head downstairs to the Hawthorn’s dining area to enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast, which includes waffles, eggs, and oatmeal.

Greater Detroit, Michigan: Giant Art Collection, Legendary Motown Museum, and Quirky Neighborhoods

Located in southern Michigan, Detroit is close to Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie, and right below massive Lake Huron. Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Detroit Warren is located in a quiet suburb about 15 minutes away from downtown.

Detroit’s downtown has some excellent museums. One of these is the Detroit Institute of Arts, a 658,000-square-foot art museum considered to be one of the finest of its kind in the country. Among its vast collection: a dragon tile relief from the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and a self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh.

The Motown Museum is in the same house where legends such as Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, and the Jackson 5 recorded some of their most classic songs. In one of the studios, you can see a giant divot in the wooden floor where producers and sound technicians tapped their foot to the beat of the songs as they were recorded.

Greektown, which is northeast of downtown, is a quirky neighborhood that has stuck to its immigrant roots. Monroe Street in particular is lined with buildings made to resemble the Parthenon and Pegasus, and Greek music plays outdoors next to themed eateries.

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Spanish Revival Mansion Overlooking Monterey Bay

At breakfast, the vibe at The Darling House is warmly hospitable and casually literary. Darrell Darling, the B&B’s proprietor and unofficial poet-in-residence, often reads aloud some of his own verse from a softcover notebook as guests dig into warm croissants served on painted china plates. Darrell’s daughter, Denise, describes the inn’s mission simply—to "welcome folks from all over the world with open arms and warm hearts."

During the day, rainbow-colored light spills into the house through prism-glass windows, one of the many eye-grabbing architectural features dreamed up by William Weeks, who designed the mansion in 1910. Other charming accents include carved columns, wood inlays, and open beam ceilings. The seven guest rooms are uniquely decorated and feature a number of thoughtful touches, such as fresh-cut flowers from the garden. Each room has a theme. The Chinese room, for instance, boasts oriental rugs and an intricately carved four-poster bed that looks as though it might have once belonged to Peking royalty.

Each morning around 8 a.m., Darrell winds up a music box to summon guests to the breakfast table. The house-made meal typically consists of fresh-baked croissants and cinnamon scones. Cookies and tea are laid out every day around 4 p.m., and on select evenings, The Darling House doubles as an intimate venue for live poetry readings and concerts.

Santa Cruz, California: Seaside Town with Free-Spirit Attitude

Santa Cruz is an eccentric coastal town on the northern fringe of Monterey Bay. Downtown, street performers, working alone and in groups, frequently transform Pacific Avenue into a stage with dancing, drumming, and historical reenactments of the famed Lincoln-Douglas mud-wrestling matches. The fun continues at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a seaside amusement park home to thrill rides and a carousel from 1911. From the top of the ferris wheel, you can take in bird’s-eye views of the many surfers catching waves in the Pacific.

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Luxurious Ecological Villas in Costa Rican Jungle

The villas of Kalia Modern Eco-Living are four sleek, ultramodern homes set incongruously in the jungle of Costa Rica's Nicoya peninsula. All clean lines and glass surfaces, the modish dwellings wouldn't seem out of place among the chic beach houses of Malibu. Instead, they look out on sweeping views of dense rainforest filled with tropical foliage and exotic wildlife.

Upon arriving at one of the three- or four-bedroom villas—named Luna, Mariposa, Breeze, and Tierra—you'll find a full kitchen already stocked with groceries and a huge deck outfitted with cushioned chairs for taking in the view and listening to howler monkeys belt out power ballads. Each home also has its own private outdoor infinity pool.

Though all the buildings have a similarly open and contemporary design scheme, each has a distinct personality. The Tierra villa, for instance, has a lush rooftop garden as well as a jacuzzi on the deck. Spacious and eco-conscious, each villa provides a stylish retreat on a secluded, tropical hillside.

Nosara, Costa Rica: Protected Beaches, Turtles, and Surfing

Situated on the eastern coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, the small town of Nosara remains almost entirely free of tourist resorts, noisy bars, and souvenir shops. Many of the roads are still unpaved, and the beaches have been left untouched in an effort to protect the population of leatherback sea turtles nesting on the sand. You can learn about and possibly see the turtles during a visit to Ostional Wildlife Refuge, the national park devoted to preserving their habitat.

The Kalia villas are located about 7 miles from Nosara, allowing for easy trips into town to shop for fresh produce at one of the small markets or sample the local cuisine. You can take a zipline tour or nature hike through the jungle, or go surfing at the shore. Of the four principal beaches in the area, Playa Guiones is the most popular spot for hanging ten, thanks to its consistent breakers, surfeit of surf shops, and lack of giant, angry squid.

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Modern Condos Steps from Beach with Courtyard Pool

Playa Tamarindo, situated along the northwestern coast of Costa Rica, earned a starring role in the 1994 surf documentary The Endless Summer II thanks to its world-class waves. In one spot—a rollicking river-mouth break beside an estuary—the waves can reach as high as 12 feet in November and December. Today, the area has grown in popularity with American expats, but the waves have stayed the same. About 120 meters inland from the beach, the Mango Center Suites are conveniently located for surfing and sailing.

The hotel partners with local surf schools for lessons that focus on body movements. With an adventure package, you can choose to either attack the waves for yourself or take a canopy tour of the lush Costa Rican rainforest. For an extra adrenaline rush on these tours, you can flip your harness upside down.

Alternatively, there’s a cooking package, which includes a class led by a professional chef. You’ll learn how to prep regional dishes such as beef tenderloin with jalapeño chili and yucca-root croquettes. Next is a bartending lesson, which teaches you to mix cocktails made with guaro, a sweet local liquor made from sugar cane. You’ll top it all off with a four-course meal and a knife-throwing competition with the chef.

Cooking classes take place in the property's central courtyard, which is decorated with potted palms, stucco archways, and blue-tiled fountains, giving it a Spanish flair. At the center is a shallow pool, which has a rippling waterfall that spills across two levels. Upstairs are the two-bedroom condos, which were built in 2008. Decorated with marble counters, stainless-steel appliances, and microfiber couches, they feel more like urban apartments than hotel rooms. There’s also a six-person dining table.

Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Surfing Beaches Framed by Forested Volcanoes

Guanacaste, which forms the northwestern province of Costa Rica, takes its name from the Guanacaste tree. It’s an umbrella-shaped plant; it’s also known as the earpod tree due to its unusual seedpods. These trees blanket the slopes of the Guanacaste and Tilaran Mountains, which are two ranges of steep volcanoes situated east of the coastline. Tamarindo, along the Pacific Coast, lies between tropical jungle and idyllic beaches.

Although Playa Tamarindo is popular with surfers, Playa Grande has fewer crowds. It’s located inside Marino las Baulas National Park. Starting in October, this area serves as a major nesting ground for leatherback turtles, and on night tours, a ranger leads groups out to see the mothers and their hatchlings.

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Elegant Hacienda-Style Resort near Arts and Historical District

Before vacationers began to pack Cabo San Lucas’s beaches, the neighboring San José del Cabo was Baja California's largest community. Centuries ago, Spanish galleons docked there to stock up on freshwater at the estuary. Though the once-tiny Cabo San Lucas eventually surpassed San José del Cabo in popularity, the latter maintained its natural allure and rich Spanish colonial history, and it eventually became a major tourist draw in its own right. Just outside the city's charming historical and arts district, the ornately decorated hacienda-style villas of El Encanto Inn Hotel & Suites exude a similar historical grandeur, creating an enchanting tropical hideaway that Frommer's calls "a relaxing, elegant alternative to busy hotels."

In the standard rooms and garden suites, tropical colors offset rustic wood furnishings and colonial-style arches. The slightly more spacious garden suites boast a kitchen and tucked amid El Encanto's fragrant gardens, featuring the scents of jasmine and bougainvillea.

A refreshing outdoor pool sits near the well-manicured garden. The pool's bright yellow chaise lounges are a great place to kick back and enjoy a drink from the poolside bar. For more intensive relaxation, the onsite El Encanto Day Spa spa incorporates natural elements into massages and invigorating spa treatments.

San José del Cabo, Mexico: Relaxing Beaches and Vibrant Art Scene

A short drive west of Cabo San Lucas on Mexico's Baja California, San José del Cabo provides a peaceful contrast to its rowdy neighbor with clear coastal beaches and an estuary teeming with wildlife. Egrets, brown pelicans, and hundreds of rare and exotic waterfowl live at San José Estuary's bird sanctuary on the peninsula’s southern tip. Nearby La Playita Beach is popular spot for surfing or snorkeling. If you enjoy sport fishing, you can rent a boat, which the locals call a panga, and cast out for sailfish and marlin.

About a mile from San José's beaches, the downtown’s colorful architecture and ornate churches hark back to the city's roots as a missionary town. Steps from the historical town square, or zocalo, San José del Cabo's arts district is rife with folk art and religious sculptures, and locals hawk fresh produce and handcrafted jewelry at a weekly farmers' market.

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Hip Hotel Steps from Caribbean with Spa and Rooftop Pool

About an hour south of Cancun, the seaside town of Playa del Carmen boasts a vibrant, pulsing nightlife all its own, centered on a street running parallel to the beach called Quinta Avenida. The name simply means "Fifth Avenue," but around here the word "Quinta" evokes the Argentinean, European, and American expats who have opened bars and boutiques along the pedestrian-only promenade. At the heart of the district rises In Fashion Hotel Boutique, a trendy, adults-only resort that's as cosmopolitan as its surroundings.

Inside, curved tile walls and a bright-red modern sculpture make the space feel more like an art gallery than a lobby. The avant-garde vibe continues in petit suites, where splashes of red or blue paint pop against minimalist, all-white décor. Zebra-print pillows and a funky armchair woven from red branches add a playful touch.

Yet the resort is more than eye candy. There are twin pools lined with matching tree-branch mosaics—one in a central courtyard, and another up on the roof, surrounded by plush day beds and glass railings. For further relaxation, the Zen Eco Spa blends poultices using orchids, vanilla pods, and mate, a tea-like herb. Take advantage of the complimentary fresh fruit, pastries, and other breakfast snacks in the morning, then wind down in the evening with cocktails at the Maladrín Bar.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Sinkhole Diving near Cozumel Beauty

Just across the sea from the island of Cozumel, Playa del Carmen has been called “the hippest city in all of the Yucatan Peninsula” by Lonely Planet. One popular local pastime is diving into cenotes, sinkholes filled with turquoise pools that extend down into twisting underwater caverns. Their name comes from the Mayan word dzonot, meaning “well,” as the local Maya once relied on them for drinking water and slip 'n' slide competitions.

To the south, preserved ruins of pre-Columbian cities give more insight into ancient Mayan civilizations. Tulum's crumbling temples sit above a dramatic ocean bluff, and Coba's enormous pyramid rises between two lagoons. For more adventures farther afield, you can hop aboard the ferry to Cozumel, which docks at the pier east of Calle 1. There, diving operations lead tours of the many reefs that Jacques Cousteau believed were some of the world’s most beautiful scuba-diving sights.

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Old-World Opulence Flanked by Tropical Rainforest and Caribbean Sea

At The Palace at Playa Grande, new arrivals might easily suspect they've breached the palace walls of an Indian maharajah. Peacocks parade amid columned porticoes accented by stone statues of Ganesh, and onion-dome pinnacles cap whitewashed walls. Despite the estate's architectural tributes to Mughal India, it remains a distinctly Caribbean hideaway on the north shore of the Dominican Republic. The golden sands of a seasonally available private beach beckon to sunbathers, and a tropical rainforest buffers the resort from the bustle of the island's metropolises.

Each palatial guest room comes outfitted with a bed draped in colorful, diaphanous silks. The cliff side suites boast bird's-eye views of the ocean. Downstairs, The Palace's skilled kitchen staff uses local ingredients to craft a regularly rotating menu that can include beef empanadas and roasted green-mango salad. In the villa's pool area, bartenders mix cocktails at a swim-up bar where guests‘ foam noodles can double as swizzle sticks.

Playa Grande, Dominican Republic: Marine Adventure on Caribbean Shore

Steps from the villa, the Atlantic stretches to the horizon past 1,000 feet of pristine, private beachfront tucked into the mountainside. The resort loans snorkeling gear to those seeking an up-close peek at the Caribbean's colorful marine life. At a local dive school, instructors certify scuba divers and lead expeditions into the watery depths, where coral reefs, shipwrecks, and underwater mountains await exploration.

Above the surface, the consistent breaks and swells of nearby Playa Grande Beach make it a must-visit destination for surfers. Giant leatherback sea turtles also frequent Playa Grande and can be glimpsed during nesting season, when they come ashore to discuss time-shares.

Forty minutes away, shoppers browse the vibrant market and jewelry shops of Cabarete. Perpetual wind gusts rushing southbound from the Atlantic make the area a popular spot for windsurfers and kiteboarders, who hit the waves on vessels powered by wind-driven sails or kites. After nightfall, Cabarete comes alive as salsa dancers flock to nightclubs pulsating with music and lights.

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Private Charter Flight from Washington, DC, to the Outer Banks with a Guided Tour of the Atlantic Coast

Mid Atlantic Charters gives you total control over your vacation planning. Whereas commercial airlines put travelers through Herculean tests such as waiting in long lines and stealing the apples of Hesperides, Mid Atlantic Charters allows you to select your own flight times and arrive as few as five minutes before takeoff. On the 90-minute flight from Potomac Airfield (VKX) to Dare County Regional Airport (MQI) or First Flight Airport (FFA), the pilot will point out landmarks while flying over the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic coastline. Flights leave on Friday or Saturday and return the following Friday or Saturday, at your time of choice.

Outer Banks, North Carolina: Barrier Islands with Award-Winning Beaches and Family-Friendly Destinations

The Outer Banks comprise a 200-mile-long string of barrier islands connected to the North Carolina mainland by bridges, ferries, and titanium monkey bars. Rugged dunes, historical lighthouses, and colonial-style vacation homes line the region's sandy beaches, which are consistently ranked among the country's best.

Apart from the beaches, there are tons of family-friendly destinations along the coast, including the North Carolina Aquariums—adjacent to Dare County Regional Airport—where you can see alligators, otters, and a 285,000-gallon tank filled with the remains of a major shipwreck. To try your hand at hang-gliding, head a few miles east to Jockey's Ridge State Park, where certified instructors offer lessons from the highest sand dune on the East Coast. There are also a handful of local outfits that offer kayak rentals, surfing lessons, and segway tours.

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All-Inclusive Beachfront Resort in Caribbean

Every week, Lifestyle Crown Residence Suites throws a beachside welcome party to help new arrivals kick off their vacations with live entertainment, dancing, and a fireworks finale. This fiesta supplies a taste of what lies in store during a stay at the all-inclusive Caribbean resort, which sprawls across a tropical hillside like a mini metropolis. There's something for everyone—a playground and art club for children as well as discos, nightclubs, and bars for grownups. Eleven pools and two spas cater to laid-back vacationers, and onsite snorkeling and other watersports engage active guests.

One-bedroom suites are like a home away from home, complete with fully equipped kitchenettes and separate dining areas. Each suite includes a large balcony or terrace, some of which face the surrounding mountains. Suites are decorated with Caribbean-inspired décor, complemented by rattan, natural-wicker, and bamboo furniture.

A lot of the action at Lifestyle Crown Residence Suites centers on the two beaches it has direct access to. But the resort offers a broad range of activities inland as well. These include golf and yoga during the day and theater shows at night. Take advantage of the free shuttle service and convenient jetpack rentals to easily tour the facilities.

Dominican Republic's North Coast: Golden-Sand Beaches and Mountainside Cities

The beach known as Playa Cofresi—named after Roberto Cofresi, a pirate dubbed "the Robin Hood of the Caribbean" for how he dispensed with his stolen treasure—runs along the Lifestyle resort's outer edge. The golden, 3-mile (5 km) stretch of sand reaches to the Ocean World marina, a habitat for dolphins, sea lions, and other marine life.

From the beach, it's only a 10-minute drive to Puerto Plata, the largest city on the Dominican Republic's North Coast. The mountainside city is known for its pastel-colored Victorian buildings with gingerbread fretwork—architecture that lends the town an Old-World charm. You'll also find some prominent cultural attractions, including the colonial-era Fort of San Felipe that was once used to ward off pirates. A couple of cannons still sit atop the thick walls of the fortress, and cannonballs, bayonets, and other 16th-century artifacts are displayed in the museum inside.

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Beachfront Hotel with Private Pool Deck

Since its original construction in 1888, Plaza Resort & Spa has transformed from a stagecoach stop to an early aviation exhibition site to a barracks for the Women's Army Corps during WWII. Fires and inclement weather have destroyed the hotel over the years, yet it always seems to emerge stronger than before, and a multimillion-dollar restoration has brought about its most luxurious incarnation yet. Located steps away from the Atlantic Ocean, the Plaza Resort now features a 15,000-square-foot European-style spa and a sprawling oceanfront pool deck.

Though much of the Daytona shoreline is open to auto traffic, the beach alongside the hotel is car-free and comparatively quieter. From the private balcony connected to your ocean-view room, you can watch the sunrise over the Atlantic or wait until a more reasonable hour and re-create the sunrise with a flashlight. Head downstairs to the hotel's Ocean Waters Spa for any number of restorative services, including the popular green-coffee slimming body wrap, a 55-minute treatment designed to smooth cellulite and increase metabolism. The beach is just a few feet from the hotel, but for a more private experience, kick back in one of the lounge chairs by the pool.

Daytona Beach: Auto-Race Mecca and Historical Boardwalk City

Seven miles from the Plaza Resort & Spa, the intoxicating scent of engine fuel and burnt rubber beckons from Daytona International Speedway. During 30-minute guided tram tours, you can stroll the infield and traverse the pit road while Mustang and Monte Carlo experts narrate the history of motorsports. For a more intimate experience, you can accompany a professional driver for three laps in a standard stock car or attempt a 16-second pit-stop challenge in a professional racecar.

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, one of the tallest masonry lighthouses in the country, stands guard about 10 miles south of the hotel on Ponce Inlet. Built in the 1880s, the 175-foot granite structure and its surrounding Victorian brick buildings feature exhibits lined with old lighthouse lenses and various historical artifacts. You can climb the 203 steps to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the beach and an inexplicable performance of "Eye of the Tiger."

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Clifftop Resort near Caribbean Sea

Only a few miles separate the jagged cliffs on the west end of Negril, Jamaica, from the pristine white-sand beaches in the north. Samsara Cliff Resort & Legends Beach Resort allow visitors a chance to experience both sides. Although the sister resorts are only five minutes apart, Samsara's clifftop location on the west end commands panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and tropical gardens. Legends, meanwhile, lies close to Negril's lively entertainment district and occupies a prime spot on Seven Mile Beach, which was recently lauded by Frommer's as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean.

Situated amid tropical gardens, Samsara's standard oceanfront rooms are set either directly on the oceanfront or across the street from the sea. For a breath of fresh air, you can step out onto the balcony or patio and take in a garden or sea view. The resort's proximity to the Negril Cliffs, a famed aquatic hotspot, makes Samsara ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Its sister property, Legends, bustles with shops, theaters, and restaurants. At both resorts, all-inclusive plans give diners access to a homemade buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Domestic alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks are also included between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.—providing refreshment after dips in one of the resorts' freshwater pools or a strenuous round of Mad Libs in the jacuzzi at Samsara. Several times throughout the day, shuttles ferry visitors between the two resorts, which extend reciprocal all-inclusive rights to each other's guests.

Negril, Jamaica: Laid-Back Beach Town Hugging White Sand and Turquoise Water

The western side of Jamaica is rich in natural beauty, from powdery beaches to inland tropical foliage. Travelers looking to do more than dip their toes in the sea can dive in with a snorkeling or scuba excursion—Samsara has a PADI scuba center onsite—or glide across the waves in search of marlin, wahoo, and other gilled game on a sportfishing outing.

Inland, the waterfalls and lush greenery of the island's tropical habitats await eco-tourists. At the Royal Palm Reserve, three types of swamp forest spread out over 300 acres, and a wooden boardwalk gives wayfarers a chance to glimpse a diverse array of avian species along with more than 100 different types of plants.

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Lavish Hotel with Rooftop Restaurant Overlooking Niagara Falls

Every day, about 200 billion liters of water surge over the brink of Canada's Horseshoe Falls, the largest of Niagara’s three waterfalls. However impressive, statistics fail to capture the full power of the falls. At ground level, there's a thunderous roar, and a massive cloud of mist rises high above the brink. But from a higher vantage point at the Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview, you can see the entire waterfall crashing in silent fury.

Each of the hotel's guest rooms feature expansive views of the city or the crashing waterfalls, but the view from the 33rd-floor Watermark Restaurant is arguably the best in town. Between bites of prime rib or roast rack of lamb, you can gaze down on Horseshoe Falls and fathom the province's astronomical water bill.

A glass walkway connects the hotel to the Fallsview Casino, where you can try your luck at 150 gaming tables and 3,000 slot machines. The casino's Avalon Ballroom has played host to major acts including Ringo Starr, Jay Leno, and Diana Ross; check out upcoming performers here. For a more mellow experience, take a half-hour drive north to Peller Estates, where you can tour the family-owned vineyards, sample Canadian wine, and tie grape stems with your tongue.

Niagara Falls, Ontario: Legendary Waterfalls and Family Attractions

Niagara Falls, Ontario, rests on the province's southeastern tip with the Niagara River and the Canadian Falls creating a natural boundary between Canada and the United States. For an up-close view, visit Journey Behind the Falls, where elevators descend 150 feet into the bedrock. From there, you can stand on a ledge carved out of the rock and view the falls from a stunning prospective—directly behind the falls.

Apart from the natural attractions, Niagara Falls offers plenty of entertainment in the way of casinos, water parks, and amusement parks. Less than five minutes from the hotel, the glitzy promenade Clifton Hill boasts a wide an array of popular attractions including an indoor water park, a celebrity wax museum, and a Ferris wheel overlooking Niagara Falls.

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All-Inclusive Mini Metropolis on Pristine Caribbean Beach

With more than 500 species of fish among its coral formations, Palancar Reef is a diver’s dream. Located off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the coral reef puts on a underwater show with its turtles, rays, and countless other marine species. Above the waves, the tiny island of Cozumel supports a white-sand beach, tropical jungles, and wild lagoons. But along with its pristine natural spaces, Cozumel also boasts a vibrant party scene that’s embodied in the beachfront resorts along its shores. Sabor Cozumel Resort & Spa, the island’s largest hotel, provides the best of both worlds with a massive private beach, daily activities, and nightly entertainment all included along with food and drinks.

Beginning July 1, Sabor Cozumel will divide its facilities into two sections: family-oriented and “exclusive," meaning adults-only. Caribbean garden-view rooms in the soon-to-be family section are palapa-style bungalows with traditional thatched roofs made from dried palm leaves. Large windows and sliding glass doors let in sunlight, breezes, and tropical-garden views. Islander rooms (in the adults-only wing) have a larger floor plan, with a furnished terrace and hammock.

All rooms are just steps from the resort’s white-sand beach, which stretches for more than 2,000 feet along the Caribbean. During the day, feel free to rent kayaks, snorkeling gear, and sailboats at no extra charge. If you’d prefer to just relax, cool off in one of three pools or grab a mojito at the swim-up bar. Elsewhere on the grounds, hotel staff leads various other games and activities, including dancing lessons.

All meals and drinks are included at Sabor Cozumel, meaning guests are free to dine at any of the half-dozen restaurants and bars on the property. Paper lanterns hang from the thatched-grass ceiling at La Isla, which serves a Mexican-influenced buffet at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests staying in Islander rooms also enjoy access to Mosaique, an Asian-inspired restaurant serving signature tempura cheesecake.

Cozumel, Mexico: Tropical Vacation Hub with World-Class Reef

Though there’s no shortage of activities at the resort, some of the earth’s most exhilarating wild areas are on the Caribbean island of Cozumel. Dozens of tour operators lead expeditions through the island’s jungles, marshes, and the Palancar Reef—a diving hotspot ever since Jacques Cousteau first popularized it in 1961. On weekends in the main town of San Miguel de Cozumel, live jazz and salsa performances attract locals, tourists, and beatnik crocodiles to the Playa del Sol beachfront.

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Upscale Mountain Lodge Between Donner Lake & Lake Tahoe

Tucked between Donner Lake and the much larger Lake Tahoe, the Larkspur Hotel Truckee-Tahoe in the mountain town of Truckee, California, places guests in close proximity to an abundance of year-round outdoor activities. From the outside, the building looks more like a rustic lodge than a traditional hotel. Its two-story, log-cabin-like façade features a woodsy mix of timber and stone that belies an upscale interior.

After long days of adventuring in the mountains and on the lakes, you can return to cozy accommodations outfitted with soft feather mattresses and down comforters. The hotel’s offerings also include a heated outdoor pool, a whirlpool spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. For a taste of mountain-style Mexican fare, head to the onsite Mountain Burrito Company, where chefs prepare bison burritos and barkeeps serve draft beer and wine in a casual space adorned with flat-screen TVs. Each morning, a complimentary breakfast buffet includes hot eggs and fresh pastries.

Truckee, California: Outdoor Adventure near Lake Tahoe

Trendy boutiques and fine-dining establishments contrast with local dive bars and souvenir shops in the little mountain town of Truckee. A posh ski culture and a history as a western railroad town supply a distinctive mix of the chic and the rough-hewn. From McClashan Point, you can survey all of Donner Lake, the site where the Donner Party met their tragic fate in the winter of 1846.

Just a few minutes down the road from the airport lies Lake Tahoe, which reaches from California to Nevada and has a whopping 72 miles of shoreline. The mountainous Sierra Nevada landscape surrounding the lake attracts hikers and mountain bikers. Crowds of all ages gather at North Lake Tahoe's various special events, which range from wine and food festivals to rock concerts and mountain-lifting competitions. Nearby historical sites pay homage to Tahoe's past as a Native American settlement.

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Luxurious Condos on Providenciales Island

For the past two years, members of TripAdvisor have voted Providenciales Island—part of the Turks and Caicos—the best beach destination in the world. But despite the high praise, the Caribbean territory has managed to stay under the radar, and its immaculate beaches remain unspoiled by high-rises and big crowds. Located on Providenciales, the most populated of the Turks and Caicos islands, The Atrium Resort lies within a few minutes of several postcard-worthy beaches.

Each accommodation features a full kitchen and a bathroom with a lavish, deep soaking tub. The one- and two-bedroom condos spill out onto a balcony or patio, where you can enjoy breakfast while scoring dives down at the enormous, freeform swimming pool.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: Miles of White-Sand Beaches

The Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, are located in the central part of the Caribbean, about a 90-minute flight from Miami. The islands might be best known for offshore banking—you’ll often see tellers decked out in scuba gear—but their charm lies elsewhere. The beaches and laidback atmosphere are the real draw and have even attracted stars such as Bruce Willis and Keith Richards, who own vacation homes here.

Providenciales, or Provo, as the locals call it, is the most visited island in the Turks and Caicos, but still feels much less busy than other Caribbean vacation spots. The Atrium Resort is less than a mile from Pelican Beach, dotted with little bars, cabanas, and restaurants. If lazing on the beach were a sport, Providenciales could easily field an Olympic team. But when you’re ready to put down the paperback and fold up the lounge chair, there are plenty of nearby activities to choose from, including sailing, scuba diving, and horseback riding.

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Five-City Guided Tour of China from Beijing to Shanghai

The Great Wall of China stretches more than 5,000 miles across northern China—longer than the length of the continental United States—snaking through lush forests and snow-capped mountains. To the south, the thriving super-metropolis, Shanghai, boasts two of the world’s tallest structures—the ultra-sleek Shanghai World Financial Center and science-fictionesque Oriental Pearl Tower. You'll have a chance soak up these sights on Rewards Travel China's 13-day tour, which will take you from the bustling streets of Beijing to the peaceful gardens of Hangzhou, with exciting stops in between.

Some deal options include roundtrip airfare from Los Angles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), or Vancouver (YVR) airports. Chinese visa fees ($140, apply by yourself) and $130 per person gratuity fees are not included. Departures may be made from other cities for an additional fee.

Days 1–5: English-speaking guides escort you to your hotels upon arrival in Beijing. A tour of China’s capital city begins the next day, with stops at the colossal Beijing National Stadium (AKA the Bird's Nest), which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony, and the Forbidden City, a palatial fortress where emperors ruled mainland China in isolation for more than 500 years. During the four-day stint in Beijing, tours will also stop at Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven, plus take the 37-mile drive up to Juyongguan to see the Great Wall.

Days 6–7: Groups take a short flight southwest to the historic city of Xi’an, considered one of the four capitals of the ancient world, alongside Athens, Cairo, and Rome. Here, the Terracotta Horses and Warriors Museum is filled with 8,000 life-size statues of Chinese warriors and horses, built more than 2,200 years ago. Commissioned by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the statue army was intended to defend him in the afterlife. Afterward, you'll head for dinner and a dance performance inspired by Tang Dynasty themes.

Days 8–10: The tour continues in Hangzhou and Suzhou, nicknamed “Paradise on Earth” and “the Venice of the East,” respectively. Each destination features a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hangzhou's West Lake, surrounded by pagodas and temples, and Suzhou’s classical gardens.

Days 11–13: The trip concludes with two days in Shanghai and a visit to the Shanghai Museum to see its collection of ancient Chinese bronze, jade, and calligraphy arts. Shopping on famed Nanjing Road, one of the busiest shopping streets in the world, precedes a dinner cruise on the Huangpu River. Finish the trip with a farewell banquet, then depart after breakfast the following morning from Shanghai.

Click here for a day-by-day itinerary and detailed hotel information.

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Condo-Style Suites near Gulf of Mexico Beaches and Swanky Shopping Center

Charter Club Resort of Naples Bay has its own private dock at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico near historical downtown Naples. It's a prime location, and the resort offers many ways for its guests take advantage, including complimentary fishing gear if you want to cast out for grouper and king mackerel. Or you can feel free to borrow a bike at no charge to visit pastel-colored shops and award-winning restaurants in Old Naples, located a few blocks away.

Made up of 33 butter-yellow units, Charter Club Resort feels like its own private residential community. Guests have access to their own heated pool and a hot tub, and there's a large tiki hut where you can stop for a frozen cocktail or a quick lunch.

All of its condo-style suites feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a fully equipped kitchen. Feel free to kick back on a lounger in your own 30-foot, screened-in lanai and look out to Naples Bay, or head to the rooftop trampoline to bounce shrimp at passing whales.

If you're looking to fish, grab the complimentary gear and head to Naples Pier, a local hangout located 1 mile away. Admission is free, and no fishing license is required.

Naples, Florida: Swanky Waterfront Town with Polished Golf Courses and Fine Dining

Naples is a sleepy town situated between the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida. Waterfront mansions line the white-sand beaches, and luxury boats are docked outside swanky seafood restaurants. Leisure is a way of life here, but it's not hard to stay active, either; there's a wealth of world-class golf courses and many opportunities to go boating or diving.

For some of the best fishing and snorkeling in the area, head to Vanderbilt Beach at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, located 10 miles north of the hotel. The beach doles out complimentary kayaks and canoes, allowing you to freely explore the many offshore reefs. Loggerhead turtles nest in the area, and rangers lead tours of the reptiles' habitats from June to October.

About 15 miles south, you can find Eagle Lakes Golf Club—famous for its water holes and frequent visits from alligators.

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Victorian-Style B & B Secluded on Wooded Hilltop

Surrounded by woods and meadows and a few miles outside of a small New Hampshire town, Rosewood Country Inn recalls early American rural life with nearly all of its facets. A stone-wall border and sunny porches highlight the outside, and fireplaces light up the suites and common areas. Daily breakfasts served by candlelight are made with locally-sourced vegetables. And because of its gardens and apple trees, the inn draws in local wildlife such as deer, moose, and turkeys that roam Rosewood’s 12 hilltop acres to munch on native plants and drink from the freshwater pond.

Rosewood Country Inn was built about 1850 as a Victorian-style home before it was expanded into a lodge that welcomed notable guests such as Jack London, Charlie Chaplin, and Charlie Chaplin’s sentient mustache. Some of the rooms have been named after these more famous visitors, including the rose-colored Mary Pickford suite, where a canopied four poster bed overlooks the gazebo. All included rooms have in-unit log fireplaces.

Resident chef Lesley Marquis serves breakfast each morning in the dining room, where diners can eat amid views of the pond and waterfall. The chef crafts gourmet fare out of local ingredients, including farm-fresh eggs and maple syrup made from the inn's sugar bush.

Bradford, New Hampshire: Small Town Convenient for Lake and Mountain Recreation

The small town of Bradford acts as a gateway to New Hampshire’s Lake Sunapee region, a popular summer getaway for nearby Bostonians. Activities on Lake Sunapee range from a scenic afternoon cruise to kayaking. The lake’s swimmable beaches and surrounding Appalachian Mountains make up Mount Sunapee State Park, a scenic spot for hiking, swimming, and fishing. In June, the area will also feature the opening of Mount Sunapee's Adventure Park with activities such as treetop obstacle courses, chairlift rides, and disc golf.

Also located on Lake Sunapee, The Fells estate and gardens was once the summer home of Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary, John Hay. With this deal, you’ll get two admissions to the estate’s grounds and access to main-house tours (starting at the end of May and held Wednesday–Sunday), which highlight its colonial revival architecture and gallery of rotating art exhibits. You’ll also be able to tour the gardens and hike along a 1.5-mile nature trail that wends through pine forests and past massive glacial erratics created by the continental ice sheet more than 10,000 years ago.

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